CSD (PRIDE) Parade 2024 Hamburg: United We Sail – You & Me Against Hate!

As Tom opened the curtains of his Barceló hotel room on Saturday morning, he was greeted by a dazzling ray of sunshine that seemed to wink at him. He describes it, as a “bright, dazzling sign”, telling him, that today was going to be a spectacular day. In this article, Tom De Maeyer, Senior Coordinator Digitalization at Hapag-Lloyd shares his experience at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) Parade (also known as “PRIDE Parade”) in Hamburg on Saturday, August 3rd 2024.

I was making my way through the bustling crowd at An Der Alster, surrounded by the vibrant colors of the Pride Trucks lining up. Meeting point was the corner of Mundsburger Damm and Erlenkamp, where our spectacular Hapag-Lloyd truck was waiting for us. On the way, the air was already filled with the happy sounds of laughter and music, and the rhythm of my footsteps matched the beat as I joined thousands of others in celebrating love, diversity, and acceptance.

For me, Hamburg has always been a city full of contrasts, where history and modernity blend together perfectly. But on that day, the city felt alive in a way I had never experienced before. It was as if every brick in the ancient buildings and every leaf on the trees were alive, vibrating with the energy of the parade. The air was electric with joy and solidarity, and as I walked, I felt a deep sense of belonging – a bond not just with my colleagues but with everyone around us. It was so lovely to see people from all walks of life, young and old, and they were all so colourful!

It was so inspiring to see 140 trucks in the lineup, representing political parties, NGOs, and multinationals, all there to support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Our truck was number 70, a dazzling double-decker decorated with our diversity logo and the motto "United We Sail - You & Me Against Hate!" Our amazing team of 140 wore specially designed event T-shirts and waved custom-made Hapag-Lloyd rainbow fans like the true champions of flair we were.

Most colleagues made a run for the second floor, eager for the view. I, however, decided to stay on the first floor, nestled in the shade – I guess I learned my lesson from last year's unfortunate sunburn! Plus, being closer to the street gave us a special connection with the crowd. A photographer and camera crew were there to capture our every move, making us feel like the stars we were.

As I stood there, I recalled a fun fact about rainbows: sunlight refracts, reflects, and disperses through raindrops to create a vibrant spectrum of colours. Just like that, each droplet plays its part in crafting a stunning display, much like every person contributes to the beautiful diversity we celebrate. It is a perfect metaphor for Pride – different identities, each adding its unique hue to the greater whole.The rainbow flag is a beautiful symbol of resilience and spirit. It represents the long and hard fight of a community that continues fighting for visibility and equality. Today, it felt particularly significant.

When the parade commenced and our amazing DJ played the coolest tracks, rainbows were our ever-present companions. 250,000 people lining the streets became friends for a moment, as we shared common stories, laughter, love, song and dance. The day was a patchwork of faces and experiences, bound together by a shared commitment to love, respect and acceptance.When we made our way slowly but surely through the vibrant streets of Hamburg, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I was grateful for my colleagues beside me, the pioneers who paved the way for our celebration, and for being part of a company that embraces us wholeheartedly. The rainbow in the sky and in our hearts was a wonderful reminder that we are part of something greater – a beautiful combination of love and diversity.

I do not want to toot our horn, but I think we had the loudest truck in the whole parade! Everyone was singing, jumping and dancing along with the music, which connected us all even more. At one point, our generator gave up the ghost for ten minutes, giving us a much-needed break to catch our breath. Thankfully, our parade captain was a real hero and managed to resurrect.

As the parade came to a close, I knew this day would be forever etched in my memory – a cherished moment of Pride 2024 in Hamburg, where we celebrated our differences and embraced the beauty of being ourselves. It was such a joyous occasion!At the end of the day, the rainbow is so much more than just a natural phenomenon. It is a symbol of hope, a promise of brighter days, and a testament to the power of love and unity. As we carried on having a great time together all over the city, I suddenly realised that we were all rainbows, each one with our own beautiful colours, lighting up the world with our presence.

Just imagine how wonderful the world would be if we could all accept each other! Pride is so important because it shows us all how to love, accept and be equal to each other. It is about celebrating who we are and standing up for everyone's right to be themselves. By taking part in Pride, we show our unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community and spread the message that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness.I truly believe that events like Pride help to create a more inclusive and understanding world, and I feel so honored to represent Hapag-Lloyd in this celebration.