Attempted fire, throwing stones… Diving into Berlin “not recommended for Jews and homosexuals”

With its pink baubles, its stars of the Berlin queer scene – Miss PanAm Drag Airlines and Destiny Drescher – its portraits of bearded men showing off strong pectorals, and its multicolored candle-shaped phalluses, the LGBT Christmas market on Nöllendorf Square , called “Christmas Avenue”, wants to be faithful to its reputation. A libertarian place, both ostentatious and ordinary, like the German capital in abundance.

Tuesday evening, November 26, one hour from the Drag Bingo show, the atmosphere is not there. A small handful of regulars, mostly male, chat over a mulled cinnamon wine. At the entrance, a discreet security check has been established. Two days ago a stone was thrown at the Christmas market, then rotten carrots. Furtive incidents. For obvious commercial reasons, the organizers of Christmas Avenue did not report it, but Bastian Finke, whose offices adjoin the Christmas market…