Berlin hosted its first drag march on Friday, an event that merged protest and pride as approximately 500 drag queens, drag kings, and LGBTQ+ supporters paraded through the city. The march served as the opening act for Christopher Street Day, one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees on Saturday.
Drag queen Sister Daphne, an organizer of the event, described the march as a statement, with "every step is a declaration, every kiss an act of revolution, every wig is a war cry." The procession, accompanied by the Transophonix brass band playing "Das lila Lied" (The Lavender Song), an anthem from the 1920s gay rights movement, passed landmarks including the Reichstag parliament building and concluded at the Brandenburg Gate.
Sister Daphne, who is part of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – an LGBTQ+ group known for flamboyant nun-like costumes – emphasized the dual nature of the demonstration. "We’re combining protest and resistance with joy and celebration," she stated, noting this combination contributes to the group's unique appeal and the demonstrations' popularity.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, founded in San Francisco in 1979 with a German branch established in 1991, are typically involved in nightlife, distributing safer-sex materials, fundraising for HIV/AIDS causes and queer projects, and participating in Pride parades across Germany and Europe. Sister Daphne expressed her delight at the turnout for the march and the growing participation as it moved through Berlin. She also shared personal satisfaction in the preparation and performance, stating, "It brings me incredible joy to get ready, put on my makeup and get into the right mindset. I really enjoy being out and about the way I am."
Berlin's Pride celebration traces its origins to the 1969 Stonewall rebellion in New York City, which began after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar located on Christopher Street.