Leipzig celebrates CSD: We stay here” for queer society!

Leipzig celebrates CSD: We stay here” for queer society!

Leipzig is showing its best side today: With 28 degrees and bright sunshine, the city celebrated Christopher Street Day (CSD), which has the motto “We're staying here”. This leitmotif is not only a homage to the Peaceful Revolution of 1989, but also a powerful statement against social regression in terms of queer rights. The expected rush of 20,000 participants was quickly exceeded by a security service with “at least 18,000” registered people, which underlines the lively participation in the event. Police describe the gathering as “really peaceful,” which created a positive atmosphere celebrating diversity of sexual orientations and queer identities.

The speaker at the event, which began on Augustusplatz, was left-wing politician Heidi Reichinnek. She highlighted the political dimension of the CSD and emphasized the importance of remaining visible even in times when attacks and threats against queer events are increasing. The event received prominent support from Sebastian Krumbiegel, frontman of the band Die Prinzen, who saw the CSD as a powerful demonstration for acceptance and equality.

A look at the dangers

But even though Leipzig today sent a sign of solidarity and visibility for the queer community, reports about the increasing threat from right-wing forces cast a shadow over this celebration. Loud daily news Queer life in East Germany is increasingly facing threats from the right, and the AfD has a strong position in many regions. In neighboring Schönebeck, where the first CSD of the “Pride Season” 2025 took place, the event had to be stopped early because there were insufficient security personnel available.

In this context, co-organizer Falko Jentsch criticized the bureaucratic hurdles that made the event more difficult and emphasized that the police pointed out the CSD's “political statement”. A growing problem is the danger of right-wing attacks, which has become a daily reality, especially in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, and can only be combated through increased security precautions.

Community and resistance

Despite these challenges, the queer community remains optimistic. Ocean Hale Meißner, organizer of the CSD in Döbeln, reported positive feedback from participants and the human cohesion that has been strengthened in recent years. General networking within the community is also becoming increasingly important in order to meet the challenges and achieve more visibility. akweb points out that book campaigns and cultural events are now being set up in rural areas to promote the visibility of queer life.

The mood at today's CSD in Leipzig was characterized by a mixture of celebratory mood and thoughtful reflection on the challenges of queer life in Germany. The strong participation and positive response from the population shows that the queer community is not ready to give up and continue to fight for visibility and acceptance. A clear appeal to everyone not to be deterred, but to stand together for a better future.