ERGO at Cologne CSD. Many. Together. Strong.

At Christopher Street Day in Cologne, the LGBT+ community sends a clear signal every year. ERGO took part for the fifth time, with its own float and a large walking group. The motto this year, alongside #ProudTogether, was: “For queer rights. Many. Together. Strong!”

This year’s CSD in Cologne brought together around 1.5 million people from Germany and across Europe. ERGO was right in the middle of it all – visible, loud and with a stance that goes beyond the day itself. From the very start of the parade it was clear how seriously ERGO takes this idea of “Gemeinsam” – together. The float was packed, with a large group walking behind – noticeably more people than the roughly 170 participants last year. The atmosphere was exuberant, lively and inclusive. The ERGO float proved so popular that spectators and participants from other floats spontaneously formed a group in front of it, creating a kind of “pre-group”.

One participant from this pre-group summed up the feeling: “From the bottom of my heart, I would really love to work for ERGO.”

pride@ergo: commitment from within the workforce

Participation in CSD is organised by pride@ergo, the network for LGBT+ employees and allies. The idea for the network came from the workforce, and it has been growing steadily ever since.

From the very beginning, pride@ergo received strong support from managers, the Board and many colleagues in day-to-day work. Since it was founded, the network has launched numerous initiatives: rainbow flags at all locations during Pride Month, gender-neutral toilets in ERGO buildings, the option to include pronouns in email signatures, and regular visibility at CSD in Cologne.

Before the parade set off, the network’s spokespersons thanked the ERGO group: “Thank you for contributing every day to making ERGO what it is.”

Taking a stand – now more than ever

CSD commemorates the uprising of the queer community in 1969 in Christopher Street in New York. Since then, people around the world have taken to the streets to campaign for acceptance, respect and fair treatment. A great deal has improved since those early days. At the same time, LGBT+ people in many countries – including here – are once again facing more hostility and violence.

Against this backdrop, it is far from guaranteed that companies will take a clear and public stance. ERGO has been doing so for years: through pride@ergo, through visible measures in everyday work and through regular participation in CSD. The message behind this is clear: everyone should be able to enjoy their freedom – regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity – not only on paper, but also at work.

Influencers on board – and on Instagram

New this year: three influencers – @cosmadujat, @kindakiri and @kimberlysimmer – joined ERGO on the float

and in the walking group. For the day, they took over the ERGO Deutschland Instagram account and gave their followers a direct view of events: the demonstration, the music, the encounters and the people behind the hashtag #ProudTogether.

They also emphasised how genuine they find ERGO’s commitment. Queer rights are not just highlighted once a year at CSD, but understood as part of the company’s culture. For them, it is clear: LGBT+ rights at ERGO are a core value, not a short-lived campaign.

Text: Stefanie Neumann