Never silent again: The ESMT Berlin Pride Impact Club at CSD

This year, the Berlin CSD took place on July 26 under the theme “Never Silent Again!”, in German, “Nie Wieder Still!”. The Berlin parade isn’t just another parade; it’s one of the top three largest – with hundreds of thousands of participants – and most iconic pride events in Europe, attracting people from all over Germany and abroad. The march this year featured over 80 trucks and more than 70 walking groups. Yes, there’s music, glitter, and a massive party, but it’s also a political demonstration. It’s about being visible, being proud, and being heard. And that’s where we came in: the Pride Impact Club of ESMT.

An idea, a pizza crust, and a wild commitment 

Back in January 2025, we were sitting in the third‑floor common area at ESMT Berlin, surrounded by empty pizza boxes, tossing around wild ideas about what we could do as a club. We were just a small group, barely a dozen members. What impact could we really have? Half‑jokingly, someone said, “We should join the Berlin CSD!” Another added, “We should organize a truck and do it together with other universities!”

I still had a crust of pizza in my hand when I said, “I’ll organize it.”

At first, I didn’t realize what I’d signed myself up for. The first few months were me, alone, navigating the labyrinth of bureaucracy just to apply for a spot. I had to find a third party to provide the float and… well, quickly discovered just how expensive a CSD truck actually is.

All of this was happening alongside a pretty full schedule: regular classes, commitments to other clubs (such as organising a panel for the Innovation and Tech Club and putting together the yearbook for our graduating class), writing my thesis, and working 20 hours a week in a student job. There were no breaks or holidays in between.

Chasing sponsors in a shrinking DEI landscape

By April, I was deep into my five‑week Social Impact Project in Kochi, Kerala — working with a startup during the day — and spending my evenings on calls with more than two dozen universities across Germany, trying to find a partner. I remember sitting cross‑legged on the marble floor, my laptop overheating in the humid air, hopping from one time zone to another in my calendar. Most conversations ended the same way: initial interest, followed by a polite no.

In the end, only one school said yes: ESCP Business School. That “yes” was the first real turning point in the project. Even with a partner confirmed, there was still a lot to figure out, and the main question quickly became how we were going to cover the costs.

The single biggest struggle? Money. Renting a float, paying for the banner, covering sound equipment, insurance, drinks, security, and volunteers — it all adds up quickly. Finding partners to share those costs was just as challenging.

But underneath that was an even bigger, more sobering challenge: the current political climate around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Every institution I spoke to was facing budget cuts. You could see it in the headlines: DEI programs were under attack in the US, Budapest Pride was cancelled, and even CSD Berlin lost more than half of its sponsors this year. It’s frustrating, and honestly infuriating, to watch funding and support disappear, because our identities don’t disappear just because they’re no longer politically convenient. We don’t stop being queer when it drops out of someone else’s strategic priorities.

Still, there were wins — big ones. ESCP coming on board was the first. The second was securing a collaboration with DocMorris. At first, we wanted to keep the event entirely corporate‑free but working with DocMorris made us realize that collaboration can go beyond institutional boundaries. Sometimes, there’s more to be gained by joining forces than by drawing hard lines.

Showing up, together

And it wasn’t just us. Around us, the broader LGBTQIA+ and ally communities were pushing back against the tide. CSD Berlin found new sponsors. Budapest Pride happened, albeit smaller. In our own project, queers and allies came together — not just on the organizational side, but creatively. People kept showing up, offering skills, ideas, and energy.

It was proof that even when the mood around DEI and the LGBTQIA+ community feels heavy, there’s still momentum if you know where to look and if you’re stubborn enough to keep going.

Organizing something like this is a lot of work, I’m talking countless emails, last‑minute calls, budget spreadsheets, and late nights. But it’s also deeply gratifying. Watching our float roll down the street, surrounded by thousands of people dancing, waving flags, and cheering — knowing that we made it happen — was one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve had at ESMT.

I hope this is just the first of many years that the Pride Impact Club takes part in CSD. Because every year, every float, every banner, and speaker set is a reminder that visibility matters. Representation matters. And sometimes, change starts with a crust of pizza, an outrageous idea, and the decision to just say, “I’ll organize it”.