Florida Agenda

BERLIN, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY – With an agenda that included equal measures of partying and political activism, approximately 750,000 people attended Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day festival, the city’s famous gay pride event.

The event included 50 floats and a recreated Berlin Wall (completely with faux-Checkpoint Charlie), as well as protests designed to draw attention to the homophobic laws of Russia. Brandishing signs that depicted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, activists marched to the Russian embassy, where they heard speeches from Russian LGBT rights activists.

“[The Russian authorities] think the rainbow flag can make someone gay. We laugh at them,” said one. “We laugh at Putin. That’s why we are here. We are together with all of you from different countries. I hope one day we will have the same pride in Russia, and thousands of gays and lesbians will celebrate together.”

At the manufactured Checkpoint Charlie, signs warned attendees that they were “entering the Russian sector” where “homo propaganda” and “free speech” are banned.

FORT LAUDERDALE – This month, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (GFLGLCC) sent representatives to attend the annual ITB Travel show, in Berlin, Germany. Keith Blackburn, president and CEO of the GFLGLCC reports that more than 113,000 trade visitors and nearly 60,000 consumers were in attendance at the Messe Berlin Convention Center.

The attendees had come to see 10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries, including those representing Greater Fort Lauderdale and its LGBT community. The chamber reps had set up an exhibition area in coordination with the Greater Fort Lauderdale-based International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), a stand that ranked Number 13 among NGO/Non-Profits by the Cologne Business School for their annual ITB “Best Exhibitor Award.” Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit paid an official visit to the booth.

The GFLGLCC was formed last year by members of Broward County’s LGBT business community, with a mission that includes promoting business and economic opportunities for the LGBT and LGBTfriendly community, promoting tourism with a unified approach, and serving as an advocate and resource for all equalitypromoting member businesses. It is a 501c (6) non-profit organization.

The GFLGLCC’s mission to Berlin was endorsed by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). For more information about GFLGLCC, visit gogayfortlauderdale.com.