Olivia Jones (56) took a stand at the forefront of Hamburg's Christopher Street Day. The Reeperbahn icon marched on Saturday in the front row through the city center with a sash over her shoulder that read: "Now more than ever", as NDR reports. At the same time, she spoke out on Instagram. "We won't be defeated", she wrote alongside a video showing pink confetti falling over the crowd at the CSD kickoff. Jones added the hashtags "happypride", "jetzterstrecht", "unfollowhate", and "lovewins" to the clip. Host Ralph Morgenstern (69) commented briefly: "Happy Pride".
One week earlier, an attack occurred in the vicinity of Berlin's Christopher Street Day, which triggered widespread shock. One person was killed in the incident, and several others were injured. Security authorities initiated investigations into the background. Representatives from politics and society condemned the attack and expressed their solidarity with those affected.
Hamburg held the parade under the slogan "Now more than ever!". The large confetti cannon gave the starting signal at noon on Lübecker Straße, as NDR describes. Officially, CSD 2026 is held under the motto "United in queerness. Take a stand - for a future without fear!". The route led via Steindamm and Mönckebergstraße to Lombardsbrücke.
In the afternoon, the organizer announced a record. "We are 300,000! Never before have so many people participated in the CSD demonstration in Hamburg", Hamburg Pride wrote on Instagram. Around 250,000 participants had been expected. 150 groups were registered, according to NDR more than ever before in the city.
Politicians march in the front row
In addition to Olivia Jones, many prominent politicians were present in Hamburg. According to NDR, Hamburg's Second Mayor Katharina Fegebank (Green Party) and SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch marched in the front row. Also expected were Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD), the Federal Government Commissioner for the Acceptance of Gender and Gender Identity Diversity Sophie Koch (SPD), Parliament President Carola Veit (SPD), Finance Senator Andreas Dressel (SPD), SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf, and former Green Party leader Ricarda Lang.
Security measures were significantly tightened after the Berlin attack. The number of emergency personnel was doubled compared to the original planning, with the addition of concrete bollards and trucks positioned crosswise. Police Chief Falk Schnabel told NDR that all security concepts had been intensively reviewed once again, including the route. From the police's perspective, there had never been any doubt about the parade itself. However, especially at this CSD, they wanted to take no risks: "Everyone can count on the highest level of security."
