Guten Tag! Celebrating Pride in Germany

If you love summer travel but hate to miss Pride, Europe's new QueerCityPass will allow you to easily navigate Germany's cornucopia of Pride events, from Munich to Berlin and and beyond with affordable ease.

"We launched the QueerCityPass in Munich in December 2015," said Inga Hilgenberg of the German National Tourist Office. "It covers public transportation (inner area or total area), and gives discounts for many LGBT-friendly partners in Munich, like Bruno's shopping, the sights at Bavaria Filmstadt, or the nightlife at BAU."

Europe's first tourist ticket especially for queer visitors, the QueerCityPass is also accesible in Vienna, Austria, and Zurich, Switzerland. Available as a single or group ticket for up to four days, the pass includes more than 40 queer-friendly partners, offers up to 50 percent off attractions, and permits free use of public transportation. The pass runs about 10,90� -- around $12.40 a day.

Tourists on the QueerCityPass can enjoy gay-friendly travel in Munich, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And with nearly 1.4 million inhabitants, Munich is a tolerant and liberal-minded city.

"One great example of this is their motto, 'Munich traffic lights like it tolerant,'" joked transplant Edwin Seth Brown, a local expert who has spent the past decade living in Germany. He explained that "the city modified some its traffic lights in the popular queer 'G�rtnerplatzviertel' district so that both homo- and heterosexual couples replaced regular walking figures on the traffic lights."

Brown said he loves the spirit of those he has met in throughout Germany because they welcome him as an individual, and "the fact that I am gay is a sidebar." The open and kind welcome he received when he went to dance camp in the summer in Koln [Cologne] years ago prompted him to return, to live there. He has no regrets.

"What a grand time it is in the summer against the Rhine River meeting people from all over the world who enjoy the open spirit of a place that has a huge gay population in its territory," said Brown. "Koln is an old Roman village and it prides itself on being open. Just check out the Koln Gay Pride celebration!"

Brown splits his time between Cologne and Berlin, which he calls, "easy, fun, open and sexy." He said that the Germans have excellent public transportation, and provide guides and passbooks for travelers. In addition, all major cities have a gay publication, like BLU/Bonner Magazine, to help you navigate the city.

"Walking down its streets of Berlin at any time of the day or night is safe and yet exciting. Encounters are just around each corner, with cool nightlife and funky clubs with specialties. I get to be me, with no shame," said Brown.

Here are some of the Pride events you shouldn't miss!

Berlin
Berlin's Pride Weeks have been welcoming visitors annually since the '80s, with a million attendees expected this year. Be sure to check out the Lesbian and Gay City Festival, a huge street party held July 16-17 around Nollendorfplatz.

Follow it with the CSD auf der Spree, their Christopher Street Day Festival, on July 21. This party and demonstration takes place on boats on the city's main river.

Ladies will enjoy the July 22 Dyke March, a demonstration held right before CSD, aka Gay Pride, on July 23. The parade starts at 12:30 p.m. on Kurf�rstendamm and moves through Nollendorfplatz and past the Victory Column to the Brandenburg Gate. The party continues at Arena Berlin on a barge in the River Spree 'til the sun comes up.

Cologne
Head to Cologne Pride from June 18-July 3, culminating with Germany's largest Christopher Street Day Festival, July 1-3, and WomenPride, a two-week festival organized since 2005. The motto for this year's CSD is a "Different Way Of Life" and the program includes a big parade, musical acts and more. About 800,000 visitors are expected.

Munich
Munich Pride Week opens on July 2 with The Lesbian Angertor City festival, a unique festival by lesbians, for lesbians. Christopher Street Day kicks off on July 9 with the Pride Parade, stepping off at Marienplatz, followed by the CSD Street Festival near Rindermarkt, with a stage show and cultural program. Spend your evening clubbing in the City Hall, the biggest party in town. Continue celebrating on July 10 at the CSD Street Festival.

Hamburg
Under the slogan: "Normal is to respect people," Hamburg Pride promotes an open and tolerant society with highlights such as Pride Night on July 30 July, a street festival from August 5-7, a Pride Parade on August 6 and more.

Frankfurt
Frankfurt Pride is a three-day event featuring gay dance parties, live music and dance, famous guests, and family-friendly events. Pride weekend is July 15-17 in City Center, with one of the liveliest Pride Parades in Germany on Saturday. Natives take pride in their outrageous, inventive costumes, and the gay bars come to life with parties for all tastes.

For more information on the QueerCityPass, visit www.queercitypass.com
For travel information, visit www.travelgayeurope.com