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CSD Sonneberg: Critics announce protests for July 19th!
The second Christopher Street Day will take place in Sonneberg on July 19, 2025, despite the announced counter-rally.
CSD Sonneberg: Critics announce protests for July 19th!
On July 19, 2025, Sonneberg will be the venue for the second “Christopher Street Day” (CSD) – an event that stands for the visibility and rights of the LGBTQ+ community. After the great success of the first edition in 2024, which attracted hundreds of participants, the event will be celebrated again this year. But not everything is without resistance, as critics have announced a counter-rally targeting the event. According to the General newspaper The municipality has not yet received a request from Mayor Heiko Voigt regarding patronage for the CSD, and the town hall has confirmed that no rainbow flag will be flown during the event.
The CSD has its roots in the events of 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, where a riot against a police raid served as the initial spark for the gay movement. In Germany, the first parades were only launched at the end of the 1970s. The first official CSD demonstration in Berlin in 1979 attracted around 450 participants, and since then the event has changed and expanded enormously, with the political message never losing its importance Federal Agency for Civic Education emphasized.
Parallels to the CSD in Nuremberg
At the same time, the CSD will also be celebrated in Nuremberg, which wants to set an example for sexual diversity with a large parade on August 6, 2025. The CSD in Nuremberg starts a little earlier, namely with the “Pride Weeks”, which begin on July 21st and offer numerous events such as workshops, readings and a picnic for rainbow families. The motto of the Nuremberg CSD is: “Visibility creates security”. Such events are intended to strengthen cohesion within the community and send a clear signal against discrimination, like this Nuremberg News report.
A special highlight of the Nuremberg “Pride Weeks” is the vernissage of the photo exhibition “We are…” by the artist Katrin Kaa Riedl, which will be on display in the Protestant Church of St. Egidien until August 21st. This exhibition shows portraits of queer people and aims to help promote visibility and diversity in society.
The meaning of the CSD
Christopher Street Day is more than just a colorful parade. It has a deeper social meaning, ranging from strengthening the rights of gay people to combating increasing violence against the LGBTQ+ community. The CSD is a place where voices are raised and memories of the past are kept alive. Every year CSDs in numerous German cities attract hundreds of thousands, which underlines the relevance and necessity of such an event.
In view of the upcoming events in Sonneberg and Nuremberg, it is clear that the CSD represents a lively and important element in German society. Despite resistance and challenges, the message remains clear: diversity should be celebrated and rights defended!