Peaceful CSD in Zwickau: 800 votes for love and equality!

Peaceful CSD in Zwickau: 800 votes for love and equality!

A lively Christopher Street Day (CSD) was celebrated in Zwickau on August 30, 2025, under the motto “Zwickau – L(i)ebe Bunt”. Organizers estimated the number of participants at up to 800 people who gathered to demonstrate for visibility and equality for queer people. Loud mz.de The event was peaceful until the afternoon, which was confirmed by the police. There were some people rioting on the sidelines, but no official counter-demonstrations. This is particularly noteworthy because there has been repeated hostility towards LGBTQI* events in Zwickau in the past.

The Amadeu Antonio Foundation estimates that in 2023 more people than ever before will demonstrate for LGBTQI* rights - even in smaller cities like Zwickau. Despite an increase in attacks on participants at CSD events, queer people did not let it get them down and celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm this year too. As the foundation reports, around 600 people took part in the CSD in Zwickau to both celebrate and express political demands.

Political messages and challenges

The speeches at the event addressed serious social problems. Speakers pointed out the increase in anti-queer violence and called for the abolition of the transsexual law. The slogans on posters included strong expressions such as “For love, for life. Sweep Nazis off the streets” and “CSD instead of AfD”. However, despite the peaceful atmosphere, there were right-wing activists present who watched the parade from a distance. Such incidents are not new for Zwickau, where a CSD was attacked by around 20 masked neo-Nazis in 2022.

A youth group of the III. Weges had even called for active disruption of the CSD. The mayor of Zwickau responded to the increasing threats and spoke during the event to demand more protection for queer people. The Saxon Minister of Justice also commented in this context.

The situation of the LGBTQI* community in Saxony

Nevertheless, a non-representative study by the Saxon state government shows that almost half of LGBTQI* respondents have experienced discrimination in the last five years. Only a quarter of respondents feel safe in public spaces, which is particularly worrying in rural areas. There, 40 percent of queer people say they have not come out for fear of negative reactions. In collaboration with the QueerSpace in the Old Gasometer, Diana Freydank has created a space in which queer people can talk about their issues. Freydank would like to see more support from institutions, associations and companies for the LGBTQI* community in Zwickau.

The history of the queer feminist movement and the challenges associated with it are deeply rooted. The resistance that began with the Stonewall uprising in New York in 1969 has grown into a broad movement for rights and visibility. Historically, there has been a long journey in Germany where figures such as Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and Magnus Hirschfeld advocated for gay rights. But while important laws such as Marriage for All (2017) and the Self-Determination Act (2024) were patiently fought for, the return of political currents that incite against queer people is alarming.

Overall, the CSD in Zwickau is perceived not only as a celebration, but also as a powerful protest event. Participants show that they are fighting for their rights and those of their community, while at the same time demanding much-needed visibility in their region. Despite all the challenges, the message remains clear: queer people in Saxony will not let themselves be defeated.