Rainbow parade started in Vienna: “Our hearts are in Graz” –

In order to commemorate the victims of the killing spree, the participants went in a silent march from the town hall to parliament. After that, the parade turned back into the usual colorful demonstration.

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Politicians, such as the Vienna Health City Councilor Peter Hacker (SPÖ), the party leaders of the Vienna Greens Judith Pühringer or the former Minister of Justice Alma Zadić (Greens), also came to the parade. For Zadić it was particularly important after the “terrible mass murder in Graz” to “set a sign against agitation and violence”. She could therefore not understand claims for the cancellation. “The rainbow parade is also a political demonstration,” said Zadić.

A cancellation was also out of the question for Katharina Kacerovsky-Strobl, the organizer of Vienna Pride. “But of course we have to commemorate the terrible act in Graz,” she said. But especially at a time when the rights and visibility of LGBTIQ+people in some countries are made a political dispute again, one had to set an example.

Expected up to 300,000 participants

The parade, in which up to 300,000 participants were expected, started on Rathausplatz on time at 12 noon. The planned route led against the direction of travel to the ring back to the starting point, where the Pride Celebration takes place at 6 p.m. In addition to speeches, for example from the Vice Mayor Bettina Emmerling (Neos), the program includes appearances by Conchita Wurst and JJ and Melanie C from the Spice Girls.

• ZiB: Rainbow parade started in Vienna

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Political origin

The organizers of the Pride again emphasized the political origin of the event. Although a lot has changed in the United States in the 1970s in the 1970s, a lot has changed for the better, but many demands from the community remain unfulfilled. In Austria, for example, protection against discrimination in the private sector and a ban on conversion therapies, as Ann-Sophie Otte, chairwoman of Hosi Vienna, said.

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