Pride Parade in Stuttgart 2019

Getting from one end of the parade at Erwin-Schöttle-Platz to the other at the Schloßplatz was open to all kinds of options - by foot, rollerskates and inliners, motorcycles, bikes & trikes, tractors, 16-wheelers, vans, automobiles and wheelchairs. You name it, it made its way through Stuttgart for the big Pride Parade.

Some took the hard way of walking the three miles in high heels (when they probably weren't used to them).

 And still others took the even harder route of crawling in their submissive dog costumes.

And whether roller skates...

...or Rolls Royce - the mode of transport didn't necessarily guarantee how much fun you had.

The large groups from Bosch, Daimler, the SPD or Vodaphone (below) usually took to the back of a semi-trailer truck with a loud stereo system.

But the winner in my book goes to this couple. The guy below is actually saying, "Hold my beer."

And then he carries this tall beauty through the streets as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

And this woman stayed up there without a wiggle or wobble. Amazing!

She has caught my eye in years past as well.

2018 as a butterfly

2017 as a silver shimmering dancer

I'm looking forward to 2020!

Christopher Street Day in Stuttgart 2019

This post is going to be in several parts because there are so many colorful images that need to be shared!

The rainbow is the symbol of the gay pride movement. The group of parents of homosexual children always dresses in rainbow attire and carries colorful umbrellas.

Others choose to paint their faces with the colors of the rainbow. In these days of body modification, tattoos, piercings, ear gauging and permanent make-up, it takes a lot of imagination to come up with something eye-catching at such a parade. This young woman was successful.

The Abseitz sport group toted a huge rainbow flag through Stuttgart, adding color to the parade 10 meters at a time.

Armbands, bow-ties, suspenders, stickers, capes and even halos were adorned with the colors of the rainbow to bear witness to the people's pride.

The Stuttgart City Theater and Opera was also represented at the parade by a van touting a banner urging people to be courageous enough to love (whomever you will).

Rainbows upon rainbows: garlands, fans, more eye make-up...

...banners, more make-up...

...and more fans with messages from the Green Party...

...and even the Stuttgart TV tower semi-transported to NY by a Lady Liberty.
However, the winner this year goes to the maker of this piece of whatcha-may-call-it clothing with the colors of the rainbow in it. Congratulations!

Christopher Street Day Parade 2018

It was a hot day in Stuttgart on Saturday, July 28, as the colorful parade made its way from the Erwin-Schöttle Platz to the Schiller Platz through the crowded streets lined with partying onlookers.
In contrast to many other parades here in Germany, the interaction between the marchers and the watchers is in no way hindered. If you recognize a friend coming down the street, you can go over and give him or her a kiss and take a selfie. Kids are given candy as on Halloween in the US or Karneval here, and after the two-hour spectacle I had been given various business cards by drag queens, invitations and coupons for visits to a couple of dungeons and stickers saying "Süßer Typ" or "I love vaginas". What a day!

But I wasn't there for that. I wanted to take pictures with my friends Andy and Conny (above), as we had done last year.
The parade opened with Dykes on Bykes and then Dudes on BMWs. Even with the same light, you can process "his and her" bikes differently to give them a different look.

Every year promises a new motto and new costumes, even if many of the paraders are the same. It's great to see how much effort goes into the get-ups.

Perfect hair and make-up - and elaborate wings for good measure!

Visiting friends on the sidelines

Retro black-and-white costumes

Every year this drag queen has an elaborate costume. This year the diesel scandal is in focus.

Masks and chains and leashes? Check.

Butterfly eye-candy

The viewer in leather says it all with his facial expression.

Some of the best things in life are free. 

I wonder if the bishops ever imagined a parade like this would ever pass by the heavenward spires of St. Maria.

Two for the price of one

Her teenager has grown up.

All in all it is a peaceful - yet very loud - and friendly event.

 

Should scenes like this cause you concern, this parade is not for you.

 

The Christopher Street Day Political Parade is an even for posers and photographers.

How can you draw the most attention to yourself? It seems the higher, the better.

Different strokes

Family is...what we make of it!!!

There is a human being behind every mask. (Now that's a notion worthy of a thesis!)

This gentleman is at all the parades and would  be deemed under-dressed elsewhere.

Drink up!

The rainbow faction has its day.

The twins from our neighborhood support the message that all people should be treated equally.