Linz celebrates the Pride Month: Rainbow City starts with a colorful program!

Linz celebrates the Pride Month: Rainbow City starts with a colorful program!

On May 31, 2025, the time has come: The Pride Month June is heralded with the official start of "Rainbow City" Linz. Linz, which became part of the Rainbow City Networks in 2021, is actively committed to being a safe and non -discriminatory place for all people, regardless of gender, origin or sexual orientation. A clear message comes from the LGBTIQA speaker Tina Blöchl, who underlines the importance of the Pride as a strong sign against discrimination against queer people. In Linz, too, the focus is on the right and visibility of the LGBTIQA community.

As part of the Pride Month, numerous events are on the program that offer something for everyone. From Drag Queen Workshops to Queeres Yoga to the demo signs for kids-the variety of offers is impressive. The queer summer cinema promises exciting film evenings, while the Pride Prayer in the Ursulinenkirche offers a spiritual space. Another highlight is the Queer City Walk, which shows the city from a completely new perspective. Finally, on June 21, the big pride parade will take place in the city center, which already captivates numerous participants.

celebrations and the power of the community

An important part of the Linzpride, which is celebrated for the twelfth time on June 24, 2023, is the Christopher Street Day (CSD), which is reminiscent of the historical uprising of homosexuals and trans*people more than 50 years ago. With around 10,000 participants in 2022, the Linzpride is the second largest queer CSD in Austria, behind the well -known rainbow parade in Vienna. This event not only focuses on the LGBTIQA*community, but also addresses everyone interested who stand up for diversity and acceptance.

The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Volksgarten and moves across the country road to the area between the AEC and Urfahraner Markt an der Donau. From 5:00 p.m., the celebrants can look forward to a large Pride Openair with live acts, DJ*Anes and many information stands. If you still have energy after a solemn day, you can continue to celebrate at the Pride Night in the Central Linz from 10 p.m.

global perspectives and challenges

But while progress is celebrated in Linz and Austria, the situation for LGBTIQA+ people in many parts of the world looks very different. In countries such as Iraq or Uganda, the rights of these people are under strong threat. In April 2024, a law came into force in Iraq that punishes same -sex relationships with up to 15 years in prison. A law was passed in Uganda in 2023 that even provides for the death penalty for "serious homosexuality". Such demands create a climate of fear and uncertainty, and militant groups fuel violence and discrimination against the LGBTIQA+ community.

The situation in Europe is also worrying. In Hungary there is the so-called "Propaganda Act", which severely limits discussions about LGBTIQA topics in schools and the media. Pride demonstrations were also violently dissolved in Turkey in 2023, while political rhetoric against LGBTIQA+ people rise. However, there are also bright spots: discriminatory laws have been canceled in countries like Namibia, and in Greece there were same -sex marriages.

Linz citizens are invited to actively participate in the celebrations and to set a sign of solidarity. The Linzpride and the events in the Rainbow City Linz stand for a colorful, diverse and respectful society that wants to give everyone a home. The city shows that there is a good knack for acceptance and tolerance in this country.