CSD Grevesmühlen: For love and diversity against right-wing hostility!

CSD Grevesmühlen: For love and diversity against right-wing hostility!

This year's Christopher Street Day (CSD) will take place in Grevesmühlen on September 13, 2025. Under the motto “Our love is stronger than your hate!” The organizers want to send a strong signal for diversity and equality for queer people. The opening rally begins at 2 p.m. on the market square, followed by a demonstration through the city, which ends with a final rally and a political-artistic program on the market square. Both the celebrations and the challenges of the LGBTQI* community are brought to the fore. Current threats and hostility from right-wing extremist groups that oppose the CSD overshadowed the event. This background information is provided by NDR.

The city of Grevesmühlen has prepared well for the event. According to the Nordkurier, four other demonstrations have been registered in addition to the CSD, including left-wing autonomous and right-wing extremist groups. Mayor Lars Prahler is currently holding talks with those registering to clarify security issues. He clearly supports the CSD and criticizes inhumane statements towards queer people. The planned security measures include, among other things, street closures in the city center to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Prahler has already called on residents of the city center to remove their vehicles from the affected areas on September 13th.

A call for solidarity

The organizers of the CSD, Rachel Hanf and Sebastian Hülser, report frightening threats. They have seen an increase in insults and defamation, particularly after a Facebook post by a neo-Nazi. Rachel Hanf thinks this CSD should also be a sign of solidarity. Despite the threats, the organizers are confident and invite people to join the CSD and make a strong statement for the rights of the LGBTQI* community.

The increased threat situation for queer people is also reflected in the historical context. According to Deutschlandfunk Kultur, there is a worrying increase in anti-queer crimes in Germany. The history of LGBTQI* rights goes back to the Empire and shows how important events like the CSD are. Prominent activists such as Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and Magnus Hirschfeld have fought for gay rights in the past, but societal challenges remain and new obstacles must be overcome.

In total, the CSD in Grevesmühlen is not only accompanied by 1,500 participants, but also by extensive security measures. Together we want to send a strong signal that has meaning beyond regional borders. In times of growing right-wing mobilization, this day is an appeal to everyone to stand up for the equality and visibility of the queer community and to show that hate has no place in our society.