Vienna Pride 2025: Together for rights and against hate!

Vienna Pride 2025: Together for rights and against hate!

The Vienna Pride Festival will take place in Vienna from May 31 to June 15, 2025, celebrating the diversity of the LGBTIQ community while loudly proclaiming the demands for equality and protection against discrimination. As presse.wien.gv.at reports, the central event, the 29th Rainbow Parade, will take place on June 14, 2025, organized by HOSI Vienna. The motto of the parade is “Unite in Pride” and will feature a variety of events and an intensive stage program featuring artists such as Melanie C, Rose May Alaba and Conchita Wurst, among others.

In a press conference in Vienna City Hall, important representatives of the city, including Deputy Mayor Bettina Emmerling, emphasized the need to take measures against hate crime and call for the ban on “conversion therapy”. “The visibility of the community is crucial,” says Emmerling, and the city of Vienna shows its support through the “Live your love” campaign and by supporting a queer youth center.

Rich program diversity and social context

The festival also includes the Pride Village, which will act as a central meeting point for the LGBTIQ community on Rathausplatz from June 12 to 14, 2025. Over 50 events will be held within this framework, including the Pride Run Vienna on June 13, 2025 and numerous after Pride events. Highlights include the Vienna Pride Conference on June 6, 2025 and Pride Beach Day, which contribute to strengthening the visibility and acceptance of the LGBTIQ community.

The 27th Rainbow Parade, which took place on June 17, 2023, impressively demonstrated the community's determination to fight for rights for LGBTIQ people. Organized by HOSI Vienna, this year the parade ran in the opposite direction around the Vienna Ring and ended with a big celebration at Rathausplatz. Special guests such as ESC winner Conchita and DJ Felix Jahn contributed to the celebration of diverse togetherness and political messages. The event addressed the need for protective measures against discrimination and called for the ban on conversion therapy.

Global challenges and rights of LGBTIQ people

The situation of LGBTIQ people remains challenging worldwide. According to a report by lsvd.de, homosexuality is prosecuted in 64 countries, with the death penalty possible in 12 countries. Religious and political leaders often foment a climate of hatred, leading to devastating consequences for those affected. This persecution not only causes social exclusion, but can also lead to poverty and a life on the margins of society.

However, progress has also been made in Europe: 38 countries have opened marriage to same-sex couples, while legal equality has existed in Germany since 2017. However, there are still countries in the EU that do not offer any protection against discrimination, which makes the demands during the Vienna Pride Festival all the more relevant. A recent survey in Germany shows that 79% of the political right and 90% of the political left accept homosexuality, with younger generations generally being more accepting.

Overall, Vienna Pride not only offers a space for celebration and visibility, but also a platform for the important political issues that matter in the LGBTIQ community. The combination of culture and activism ensures the community's voices are heard in the days ahead and beyond.