CSD: a hot party in Cologne

"You are an inspiration for many people," Cologne politician Elfi Scho-Antwerpes said of Conchita Wurst at the opening of the 2015 Christopher Street Day celebrations. It was the first time Wurst had been to Cologne for the street festival.

With temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius (86 F), the festival quickly turned into a beach party on the Rhine. However, it is officially a demonstration. This year's motto was: "Diversity - teach, learn, live!"

Following the groundbreaking "Yes" referendum in Ireland at the end of May, and a US Supreme Court ruling in June, the equality of marriage for heterosexual and homosexual couples was much discussed in Cologne on Sunday.

Even for politicians, the Christopher Street Day parade is a hit. This is Cologne Greens party representative Anton Hofreiter.

Year after year, the CSD in Cologne attracts guests from all around Europe. This group of gay Russians came to demonstrate against intolerance in their homeland.

In fact, the Cologne Christopher Street Day is the largest in Europe. Organizers said 137 groups took part in the parade through Cologne's old town - the most ever.

Although this is one of the biggest parties of the year in Cologne (second, of course, to Karneval), organizers say they take the parade's historical and educational aspects very seriously.

At 32 degrees Celsius, even the most cooperative of hairstyles can present problems. For those who need help, air wheels can be quite beneficial.

The veritable sea of colorful and creative costumes makes the CSD in Cologne popular not just for those taking part in the parade. Thousands of onlookers turned up in the city despite the hot - and even inclement - weather.