Pride and protest: East Germany celebrates CSD despite the right attacks!

Pride and protest: East Germany celebrates CSD despite the right attacks!

Bautzen, Deutschland - Last Saturday, June 22, 2025, several East German cities celebrated the Christopher Street Day (CSD) with different numbers of participants. A total of around 10,000 people took part in the celebrations in Berlin-Marzahn, Eberswalde, Jena and Dresden. According to the police, there were around 1,100 participants in Berlin-Marzahn who enjoyed concerts and speeches after a colorful move. Interestingly, there was a right -wing extremist counter event of "German youth", which was only represented with 50 people, although 300 were registered. This was canceled prematurely because the neo-Nazis were not allowed to march behind the Pride event.

A particularly worthy of protecting for the diversity was set at the CSD in Bautzen, where the event took place under police protection - a clear indication of the tensions that accompany these celebrations. In Eberswalde, where 2,000 people came together, a summer party of the AfD took place at the same time, but this was without incidents. In Jena, the organizers with 5,000 participants recorded the highest number since 2022, and more than 1,700 people in Dresden celebrated the fifth queer pride under the motto "Queer and Antifascist - hold our bridges". After the move, a party with performances and live music took place.

right -wing extremist attacks and their consequences

The mood was not peaceful everywhere. On Sunday, the rally "Bad Freienwalde is colorful" was attacked by right -wing perpetrators, which led to at least three injuries. René Springer, the AfD state chairman, condemned this outburst of violence and demanded enlightenment. Critics, including the union of the persecuted of the Nazi regime-Association of Anti-Fascists (VVN-BDA), described his reaction as hypocritical. In recent years there have been more and more disruptive actions against CSD events. In 2024, the security authorities counted numerous operations against LGBTQ+celebrations, often organized by classic right-wing extremist groups.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution observes an increase in queer anti -queer agitation, with a special focus on the Pride Month. Right-wing extremists abuse the LGBTQ+movement as an enemy image to spread its nationalist and racist ideologies. In the protests against the CSDs in the past year, the number of participants in the three-digit range moved when, for example, around 700 people demonstrated against the Pride events in Bautzen.

demand for more diversity

The increasing attacks and disorders are all the more alarming because they are mainly directed against diversity in sexual orientation and the struggle for equality. The right activists propagate heterosexuality as "natural" and try to present the perspective that diversity is an enrichment as a social threat. In this context, it is important that the LGBTQ+community and its supporters are still showing solidarity and offensive inside. The VVN-BDA calls to take part in upcoming events to set a clear sign of human rights and the rights of minorities.

The events related to the CSD and the associated right -wing extremists should not only encourage us to think, but also motivate them to participate in this social discourse. Every event that celebrates diversity is a step in the right direction, and it is due to society to make these voices loud and unmistakable.