Shocking incidents: CSD 2025 in Thuringia under attack!

Shocking incidents: CSD 2025 in Thuringia under attack!

There's a lot going on in Cologne this year: a total of 245 Christopher Street Days (CSDs) took place in Germany in 2025, and our city also included numerous festive events to celebrate diversity and the LGBTQ+ community. Loud Radiolotte We experienced a record number of events taking place in both large cities and smaller towns. While in Thuringia, for example, Erfurt, Jena, Gera, Eisenach and Weimar were celebrated, Ilmenau, Suhl, Mühlhausen, Sonneberg and Pößneck were also able to host CSD events. This shows that the CSDs have become an integral part of many parts of Germany.

But not everything went without problems. The celebrations were not spared from incidents this year either. Reports of attacks and counter-protests increased. The Amadeu Antonio Foundation has therefore launched a monitoring system that provides an overview of these incidents throughout Germany. In an interview, Ronja Pohl from the foundation gave interesting insights into these developments and the need to promote discourse about such events.

Growth and challenges

Seeing a clear increase in community events is positive, but the accompanying challenges also require attention. It is not only important to protect the celebrations, but also to have a discussion about security and the general social conditions. The CSDs are a symbol of progress and cohesion, but the negative incidents show that there is still a lot to do to ensure equality and acceptance.

On another note, we note how important communication is also within the organizations that support and run such events. Loud CSD.org Communication plays a central role in all activities. It relies on the power of collaboration to promote open and honest dialogues. It also emphasizes the importance of accepting different perspectives and backgrounds and creating a culture of belonging.

Opportunities for companies

The importance of CSDs also extends to the business environment. The South African Government's Central Supplier Database (CSD) demonstrates the importance of consolidated and verified information in the business world. Serving as a one-stop shop for supplier information since April 1, 2016, this database shows how organizations can self-register to pursue business opportunities with the government. The desire for transparency and a certain degree of reliability is crucial - conditions that can also be felt in the event management of CSDs.

Overall, the variety of events and the support from the community in Cologne is unmistakable. It remains to be hoped that celebrations like the CSDs will continue to send a strong signal of unity and acceptance in the future and that we will tackle the challenges that come with it with commitment and courage.