(25 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Berlin, Germany – 25 July 2025
1. Various of activists unravelling large rainbow flag outside Reichstag building
2. Various of flag laid out outside Reichstag
3. Various of crowd gathered holding Pride flags
4. SOUNDBITE (German) Kira Bönisch, speaker and organiser of petition:
"We laid out the huge rainbow flag today because Julia Klöckner simply banned it last month. It has been a tradition for a few years now to raise the rainbow flag at the Bundestag during the CSD (Berlin’s Pride march, known as Christopher Street Day). Julia Klöckner is against it, and that’s why we’re here, bringing the rainbow ourselves."
5. Wide of Pride flag with German flag flying atop Reichstag in background
6. SOUNDBITE (German) Kira Bönisch, speaker and organiser of petition:
"It is a very clear, fatal sign. We are currently living in times of right-wing pressure. You can see it everywhere, for example, the Self-Determination Act is now being attacked, is supposed to be evaluated, and possibly abolished. At the same time, Dobrindt (Alexander Dobrindt, German Interior Minister) is planning a so-called special register for trans people, which is supposed to come this year. And it is simply fatal to see. That’s why we need such important times of support, like a rainbow flag, even if it is just a symbol. It is a very fatal sign from Julia Klöckner that she wants to ban this flag."
7. Various of protest participant and cabaret artist Miss Cathrinsche performing in front of Reichstag building
8. SOUNDBITE (German) Miss Cathrinsche, participant of protest and cabaret artist:
"The flag belongs on the Bundestag. Once a year, that’s important. We are simply part of society. We are here. We will always remain here. You can do whatever you want."
9. Wide of Pride flags waving in front of the Reichstag building
10. SOUNDBITE (German) Miss Cathrinsche, participant of protest and cabaret artist:
"As long as they do not stop hating us and constantly discriminating against us, threatening us, insulting us, and threatening us with violence, we will continue and we will never be silent again."
11. Tilt up of participants in colorful, rainbow-themed outfits celebrating Pride in Berlin
12. Close of pair in vibrant rainbow attire smiling at Berlin Pride event
13. Wide of participants in colorful attire waving pride flag in front of Reichstag
14. Mid of Pride flag, Reichstag in background
15. Various of crowd holding Pride flags
16. Pan left from participants waving large Pride flag to Reichstag building
AP video shot by Fanny Brodersen
STORYLINE:
Demonstrators unravelled a huge rainbow flag outside the German parliament on Friday to protest against a decision to not raise the flag on the landmark building during Berlin’s annual Pride march.
Julia Klöckner, a conservative who became the German parliament’s speaker in March, angered many in the LGBTQ+ community by announcing that the flag would be raised over the Reichstag on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, but during the Pride march in late July.
Her center-left predecessor, Bärbel Bas, became the first speaker to raise the rainbow flag at the Reichstag in July 2022.
Klöckner argued that the flag was already displayed by individuals during Pride, and that the right to sexual self-determination was represented by the German national flag, which symbolises the constitution.
"It has been a tradition for a few years now to raise the rainbow flag at the Bundestag," said Kira Bönisch, who organised the petition.
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