On March 25, 2022, the CSD Magdeburg in cooperation with the CSD Saxony-Anhalt organized a gala in Magdeburg, to which we were invited as members of the Queer Campus. The CSD Gala was on this day an event where many different queer associations and actors could exchange with each other; in addition, there was an extensive stage program. On the one hand, the queer commissioner Sven Lehmann was represented, but also the candidates for the mayoral election in Magdeburg on April 24, 2022, the CSD Germany or Lambda e.V. were also present. Musical mood was provided by the singer and violinist MKSM and Sissy made the audience laugh. The sisters of perpetual indulgence guided the audience through the evening with their moderation.
The gala started with a few speeches of e.g. Sven Lehmann, but also other actors like CSD Germany. Afterwards there was a mood program with MKSM and Sissy. This was followed by a break, in which the individual actors communicated with each other and could exchange, which was of course also the main goal of the gala. After that MKSM and Sissy continued until the end. For the supply there was a small buffet with some appetizers and a bar where sparkling wine, orange juice and coffee was served.
All in all, we enjoyed the gala very much; for most of us this was even the first gala. However, this meant that we were not able to network with the other actors as well as we would have liked. We found the audience cursing that occurred after the intermission a bit strange and rude. Also, there were no plates with the buffet, which is why a lot ended up on the floor, and there were no indications as to which of the appetizers were vegan or vegetarian, which bothered a few of us a bit. Overall, the gala was very nice and a lot of fun for each of us. We will definitely take this experience with us and are already looking forward to the next CSD Gala.
Benni, he/she/they
