340,000 people at the Rainbow Parade on Vienna’s Ring

Under the motto “Pride is a demonstration” the diverse participants – including many from politics – of the “largest demonstration in Austria” demanded more rights for LGBTIQ people. There were no incidents.

The Rainbow Parade was once again organized by the Vienna Homosexual Initiative (HOSI) as an “important symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) life”. This year the demonstration consisted of a total of 92 decorated trucks, other vehicles and groups of participants. The lively hustle and bustle was to end at 6 p.m. in the “Vienna Pride Village”, where performances by Conchita Wurst and this year’s song contest participant Kaleen were on the program.

• More on the topic: The Rainbow Parade is under strict police protection

Wurst alias Thomas Neuwirth has been performing nationally and internationally for 20 years. Pride Parades. “I don’t know how many there were,” the singer told ORF. But the first event of this kind on June 15 in Bad Ischl in the Salzkammergut – the region where Neuwirth was born, where he will also appear as Conchita – was particularly special. “A lot has happened there,” said Neuwirth.

Babler and Bures among the guests

There was also a large turnout from politicians: from the SPÖ, federal party leader Andreas Babler, the second president of the National Council Doris Bures, EU top candidate Andreas Schieder and the Vienna city councilors Jürgen Czernohorszky and Peter Hacker took part. From the Greens, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler, Health Minister Johannes Rauch, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and Justice Minister Alma Zadić came. Finally, the NEOS were represented by their party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger, the Vienna Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr and EU top candidate Helmut Brandstätter.

“Strongest movement worldwide”

“Today we see: Pride brings thousands of people onto the streets to stand up against injustice and speak out about it. Pride is one of the strongest movements in the world today, where people come together for a good cause and want to make this world a better place. Pride is not a momentary movement, not a passing phase, not a fad that will disappear, not a craze that will calm down again, nor is it an advertising product that sells well,” said organizer Katharina Kacerovsky-Strobl, managing director of Stonewall GmbH, to the APA.

Ann-Sophie Otte, chairwoman of HOSI Vienna, was also pleased about the large influx of people to the Rainbow Parade. “It is important that we take to the streets today, whether that is for protection against discrimination, an end to medically unnecessary operations on intersex children or the urgently needed ban on so-called ‘conversion therapies’, because it is unacceptable that Austria is not moving forward a millimetre on these important human rights issues,” she said. The community now makes up ten percent of the population – and thus ten percent of voters. Otte called on them to “vote for an open and LGBTIQ-friendly Europe” in tomorrow’s European elections.

Increased security precautions

After a terrorist incident at the event last year, security measures were increased this year, which was reflected in a more visible police presence. A search warrant was issued for the “Vienna Pride Village” on Rathausplatz. Only those people who allow their clothing and containers to be searched are allowed to enter.

According to ÖAMTC mobility information, the parade caused delays in traffic due to the hours-long closures on the Ring. Tram lines 1, 2, 71 and D as well as inner-city bus lines were briefly diverted or rerouted.

This article was last updated at 17:21.