The Salzburg Pride Festival 2024 begins in nine days. For years, it has been the most important event in the queer calendar of the city of Mozart. What are people expecting? What are they looking forward to? What does the festival mean to individuals? gaysalzburg.at asked around.

Virgil Lintner, Salzburg, chemical laboratory technician

Salzburg Pride was my first Pride three years ago. And it opened my eyes. ‘Wow! There are so many people who are like me, who can understand me.’ That meant a lot to me. I was part of something extremely big. The people are super friendly. It’s so colourful and showed me that I’m not alone. It also gave me the opportunity to get to know Salzburg in a whole new way – on a different level. That made it very special and personal for me.

‘A place in my heart’

I’ll definitely be at the parade. And this year, for the first time, I’ll also be at the HOSI Pride Fest, the Pride Night. I also find the queer city tour very interesting. I like to deepen my knowledge. For example, about the queer history of Salzburg. Also in relation to drag kings and queens. Since I work a lot, I might still make it to the drag king workshop. I’ve learned a lot about the drag scene in recent months. And I’m very interested in it. At Salzburg Pride, I learned that I’m not alone, whether in the city or in the countryside. That’s why Salzburg Pride has a place in my heart.

Christian Hödlmoser, Salzburg, office clerk

This will be my first Salzburg Pride Festival and my second Pride Parade in general. I moved into my own flat here at the beginning of May this year, making the transition from the countryside to the city. In Salzburg, I have more opportunities to attend a large Pride Festival. My highlight is the Pride Parade itself. I am looking forward to meeting new like-minded people during the demonstration. Together with them, I want to show that we are part of a large community.

‘You can be proud of yourself.’

For me, Pride means accepting who you are. ‘It doesn’t matter who you are or who you love, you can be proud of yourself!’ That’s the message I want to send out to the world on this day. Before the parade, the Pride Night Kitchen Club is an event I definitely want to attend. Cooking together like we used to in cooking class at school. It brings back fond memories. Apart from that, I need some new inspiration and ideas for my cooking anyway.

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Wolfgang Feichtinger, Salzburg, proprietor of the Dark Eagle

‘I’ve been involved since the beginning. That was at the first Pride in 2018, when the Australian yodeller was there – I drove there in my vintage car.’ Pride is a lot of work, you shouldn’t underestimate that. It’s fun, but there’s also a lot to do. Pride week is a very special week with a wide range of activities on offer. And that’s absolutely justified.

Other cities and communities

At first, CSD was a weekend event, but then it became Pride Week with lots of events. For example, events at my place, Dark Eagle. This year, there’s Sexy Sunday Afternoon, High&Horny III and the welcome evening for the leather and fetish scene on Friday. There are always so many people from other cities and communities there. That’s really nice. And then I’m also happy when it’s all over again (laughs).

Katha Pirchmoser, Innsbruck, teacher

I live in Innsbruck, but I always enjoy coming to Salzburg. Especially at a time when the queer community is given so much visibility. That’s why Pride season in Salzburg is a must for me. This year is my second Salzburg Pride Festival. In my opinion, this year’s programme is as colourful and diverse as the queer community itself. ‘This year, there are lots of events that share knowledge and where you can learn lots of new things. I really like that.’

‘It’s important to be part of Pride’

The sign language workshop sounds very exciting, for example. If I have time, I definitely want to go to the MagicGarage drag show. I have lots of friends who will be performing there. I’m looking forward to seeing them on stage and again after their performance. As I am an activist for queer rights myself, I know how important it is to be present at Pride events. I’m looking forward to meeting old friends again, getting to know colourful people and standing up for our rights together. That’s what Pride means to me. A colourful community where everyone can be who they want to be.

Conny Felice, Salzburg, Managing Director of HOSI Salzburg

I feel quite excited when I think about the upcoming Pride Festival. I hope the weather will be good, especially for the outdoor events, and I look forward to seeing lots of visitors. I’m looking forward to inspiring encounters and a cool programme. I would love to attend most of the events as a participant, but unfortunately that’s not possible in my role as managing director of HOSI Salzburg.

‘Out of the bubble’

The motto ‘Be visible Schatzi’, our motto for the third year running, sums up what we do: creating and promoting the visibility of the queer community in Salzburg’s urban society. Looking at this year’s programme, we can definitely say that we have taken a step forward. Events with museums, cinemas, theatres and even the Archdiocese of Salzburg are a clear sign of our development. ‘What is important to me is that we come out of our bubble, reach out to Salzburg’s urban society and achieve a fear-free Salzburg in both directions.’ The pub quiz, the cinema evening with the documentary Obersalzberg, the church service – which is important to me personally – and cooking together are my personal favourites.

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Noa Gruber, Hüttau near Salzburg, interior design consultant

I think it’s wonderful that we can celebrate Pride together in Salzburg too. Something very important would be missing for me if there were no Pride Festival in Salzburg. Simply the certainty that I don’t have to justify who I am. I live in the countryside, where the situation is often even more difficult for queer people.

„Safe space for al“

My goal is to attend as many events as possible and gain all kinds of new experiences. Besides the parade, the Pride Slam is the most important thing for me. I will be reciting my own text there. The workshop ‘Right-wing extremism under the microscope’ is also at the top of my list. It is particularly important to learn about this phenomenon and its dangers. To mark the Salzburg Pride Festival, I also want to do something new with my hair. That’s why I’ll definitely be attending the queer hair workshop. ‘For me, Pride is a place full of colourful people who support each other. People who know how you feel and respect you for who you are – a safe space for everyone.’

Am Freitag, 30. August beginnt das Pridefestival Salzburg 2024 mit dem Konzert von Dexpleen im Volksgarten. Danach geht es Schlag auf Schlag bis zum 8. September weiter, ein geballtes Programm queerer Lebenswelten. Was wann wo genau stattfindet steht in unserem Veranstaltungskalender oder auf der website des Pridefestivals Salzburg.

An article by Sebastian Brandstätter and Peter Goebel