Christopher Street Day, Stuttgart 2016

I adore black and white photography. But on the 30th of July 2016, it would not reflect the day in all it shades of variety and respect. It was the Christopher Street Day (CSD) celebration in Stuttgart.
This particular day is for me far more than a parade of people how a celebrating in colourful costumes. It is a symbol of respect, love and peace between mankind. I saw so many people dancing peaceful and happy next to each other respecting their thoughts, wishes and believes. Nobody was degraded because of the dress he or she worn’s that day or because of him of her believes. People showed dignity in treating each other equal.
But not everything was sunshine and roses. The parade was dived from the viewers on the side of the road. You could argue that it was important because of safety reason, which I can’t deny. But you could easily tell that there was not only a physical fence between some of the people in the parade and the audience. There was also a boarder in the minds. I was asked if those people are “different” or heard people talking deprecatingly on the phone about the participant of the parade, another obvious sign was the crowed of photographers which just waited for the people with the fancy dress to take the stereotype pictures of the Christopher street day. Although the some speakers of the CSD on the political demonstration pointed out that rainbow community is nowadays used from conservative parties and right-minded parties to show how tolerant our “western” society is. This argument is especially used against refugees. The speaker made clear in the same speech that this is just a argument of many members of those parties, which don’t share this thought honestly in their mind. A good sign in my eyes was the participation of the Turkish community in Germany. Their speaker got it clear not every body was amused (to put it in kind words) that they participated in the parade, but for him and for many it was clear from the beginning to set a sign with that participation against racism and discrimination.
Till the late evening I saw people expressing them self in the way they are with out harming or judging each other. This was a pleasant feeling in a world that seeks nowadays more and more for easy solutions and fast as well as simple answers, this world although seems to become more intolerant and aggressive in to many countries.
I which everybody the peace and dignity in what ever they doing and where ever they are! (As sad as it is but I believe that this becomes more important in those days.)
Georg
PS: if you would like too see images which show a more glamour’s picture of that day and which give you although a good overview that follow that link:
www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.christopher-street-...