History

On the 27th june 1969, around the gay bar Stonewall in the Christopher Street in New York a riot escalated, caused by constant mortifying chicanes of the police against the local lesbian and gay scene. Up to that point the police didn’t think that the lesbians and gays would defend themselves as they would shy the public. After the humiliation by the police reached an insufferable level, the lesbians and gays went to the streets. Suddenly the topic became of interest to the media and went public. Therefore the police wasn’t able to act further in an unlegislated area. 1969 was the beginning of the lesbian and gay movement for tolerance and acceptance worldwide.

Since 1994 the Christopher Street Day (CSD) Zürich has been organized annual. Those festivals were occasionally behind the Landesmuseum, at the Theater Gessnerallee, at the Zeughausareal or the Turbinenplatz. Through the years the CSD organization become professionalized and received every year a new visualization and motto.

1999: 30 years Stonewall – same rights now!

Thirty years after the Stonewall riots the CSD Zürich demands same rights now. Speakers have been the former president of the Zurich green party, Martin Abele, the at that time parliament member from Basel, Margrith von Felten and the former FDP canton parliament member Hans-Peter Portmann. On stage at the Platzspitz, Mr. Gay Valentino hosted the cultural program including Dj Tara LaTrash and other local celebrities from Zürich.

2000: lesbian-gay-bi-national

The situation of homosexual partnerships between a swiss citizen and a person from outside Switzerland became the main topic of the CSD Zürich 2000. A partnership registration has been demanded so that the partner from abroad would receive a permanent staying and working permission in Switzerland. The cultural program had to move in last minute from the Platzspitz to the Zeughausareal where among others Nella Martinetti inspired the crowd.

2001: Work together

In focus has been the situation of lesbians and gays in their jobs. For this reason the direct discrimination (such as mobbing) or subtle forms (as not getting promoted) have been considered.

Speakers on the Helvetiaplatz have been the back then swiss federal president Moritz Leuenberger, who received standing ovations after opening his speech with “dear madams and madams, dear sirs and sirs. The swiss entertainer Maja Brunner performed on stage.

2002: We are family

In the official year of family the CSD Zürich made the family as well to its motto. Lesbians and gays are on one hand side part of a family with a father, mother and brothers/sisters and on the other hand they create their own new family structure to live in. Speaker on the Helvetiaplatz has been the former mayor of Zürich, Elmar Ledergerber. On stage the Spanish duo Baccara entertained the guests.

2003: up in the country – down in the city

An anachronism. With this motto (and the manifestation in the city centre) the CSD showed that there is a lesbian and gay reality outside the metropolis Zurich as well as there are still things to do and change in the countryside, things that have become natural for lesbian and gays in the city. Guest speakers have been two canton parliament members from more countrified regions. Star guest on stage was Tina Charles, the European disco queen who performed her 80is hit “I love to love”.

2004: Rights Now! – lesbians and gays worldwide

The situation of lesbians and gays worldwide was this year in focus with the call for “rights now!”. For the first time the CSD Zürich took his place in the beginning of June. Despite of bad weather thousands of visitors and participants showed up at the parade and the festival area, new at the Turbinenplatz in Zurichs circle 5 are. The big star on stage was the british singer Samantha Fox who delivered a fantastic concert.

2005: Go for yes !

Maybe the most important CSD Zürich ever. One day before the national voting for a partnership law, lesbians and gays give their all. On the Helvetiaplatz Doris Leuthard, CVD national parliament member and SP cabinet member of Zürich, Markus Notter, have their speeches. At the parade 8000 participants were count and the festival area at Turbineplatz with the Swedish group Alcazar on stage has been a huge success.

2006: Acceptance goes to school.

This motto has been a demand to schools and politicians to get rid of prejudice about homosexuality in schools, to get the topic into the teaching and to get full acceptance of lesbian and gay teachers. But also parents are encouraged to be open to the homosexuality of their daughters and sons. The CSD Zürich introduces an innovation: aside of 2 political speakers, Patrick Frey, an artist and actor has been invited to talk about his point of view – with positive results! The parade has been the largest till so far and our own CSD Party a big success.

2007: Come out of the closet!

“I’m gay, and that is ok”. With this sentence our main speaker, mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit, came out of the closet back when he got elected. His coming-out didn’t effect his election as head of Germany’s biggest city at all. The media hat a lot to report in this year, specially about Mr. Wowereit and because of a coffin. After discussions of closing darkrooms in the area of Zürich, right before the CSD, a coffin symbolizing the Zürich night life has been wearing through the parade. A sea of placards

and posters and a never before known number of parade trucks made this CSD to an event of superlatives.

2008: Offside & right in the middle

One week after the CSD Zürich the European soccer championship started in Switzerland and Austria. Cause of this close distance to the biggest sport event Switzerland has ever hosted, the chance to talk about the situation of gays and lesbian in soccer and sports in general was there, but still a challenge. The CSD Zürich made a big statement by sending 2 soccer goals covered in pink balloons through the city centre. This time the CSD Zürich grew again and reached with 15 parade trucks its highest hights so far.

2009: Europride Zurich

About 50,000 people took part in the huge Parade on 6 June and demonstrated for their equal rights: “Your rights are my rights”. With 24 Trucks and 25 Floats, it was the longest and most colourful Parade ever seen in Zurich. Tousands of visitors were enchanted by the two-day festival in the City of Zurich. More than 100 mobile stars or tusk cones illuminated the streets and rainbow flags were visible everywhere, even on the front of trams and busses. Zurich thereby proudly presented itself as the Gay Capital of Switzerland. Visitors came from all over Switzerland, from Europe and even from overseas; everyone danced into the early morning hours.

A 5 week programme, full of variety – that was the motto of the organizers from the start. In the end, it was certainly achieved. Altogether 218 organizations took part in the programme. They consisted of 70 firms, 51 cultural organizations and 51 parties. The number of visitors was more than satisfactorily, and many events such as the Pink Apple or the “warm May” were sold out. At the Sport weekend over 300 athletes from Switzerland and Europe fought for medals. In the political discussions, broad spectrums of views were represented, and many different subjects could be discussed, from the “rainbow family for Diversity management” to the “first Gay and Lesbian Economic forum in Switzerland”.

We look back on many exciting conversations and unique events, on the first international dance tournament since the Euro Games 2000, on the presentation on the website about the story of gay life in Switzerland, on an elegant Gala dinner at the Water Works, and on a two-day festival with three stage, held right in the heart of the Limmat City – Zurich.

2010: Mission: Do Ask – Do Tell

GLITZERHAUS feat. Shoshana Bean

2011: Live with the difference …
This is the complete Slogan 2011: “LIVE WITH THEDIFFERENCE - VIVRE AVEC LA DIFFERENCE”
Together with the national main organization Pink Cross and LOS of the battle was launched against the discrimination. The team of the festival opened a playground for our thoughts and opinions – for the many differences that make each person unique. Whether large or small, narrow or wide, rich or poor, healthy, no matter what sexual orientation, national origin or religion, or handicap - we all live in the same society.
For the first time the Zurich Pride Week was launched. Numerous organizations and associations involved with sport events, readings, lectures, workshops on this one weekbefore the festival. A program which had to offer something for everyone.

On 17 June 2011 was then opened to the turbine room, the festival grounds and it was a spectacle for two days under the rainbow, in the truest sense of the word. On Saturdayevening it was clear then that 30,000 visitors were guests at the festival site, which took halfof it to the demonstration march in the afternoon in part by the Zurich city center andaccompanied then the 25 participating groups. The conclusion was that Zurich Pride Festival2011 with a Sunday brunch and followed by ecumenical church service.
The official song of DJ Angel O. feat. Franca Morgana