Berlin Pride marchers warn of rising homophobia amid political backlash
– 2 min read
Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade drew record crowds this weekend with marchers and activists using the occasion to raise alarm over a surge in homophobia and what they see as a dangerous shift in Germany’s political climate.
Under the defiant slogan “Never shut up,” tens of thousands filled the streets with rainbow flags, music, and protest signs. But behind the festivities was a growing sense of urgency.
“This year, we’re not just marching for visibility - we’re marching for survival,” said activist Leila Hassan, a spokesperson for Queer Berlin United. “The rhetoric coming from our government is emboldening hate. We’ve seen it before, and we won’t let history repeat itself”.
The parade came just weeks after Bundestag President Julia Klöckner banned the rainbow flag from flying over the German parliament. Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended the move, dismissing the Pride flag as a “circus” - a remark that drew sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ groups and even members of his own party.
“Calling our flag a circus is not just disrespectful - it’s dangerous,” said Chris Kelly, a local business owner and long-time resident of Berlin’s LGBTQ+ stronghold, Nollendorfplatz. “It sends a message that our lives are a spectacle, not something to be respected or protected”.
The political climate has coincided with a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ incidents. At least 17 far-right protests have targeted Pride events across Germany this year, and some cities have cancelled their parades due to safety concerns. In Berlin’s Marzahn district, a recent Pride event required a heavy police presence to prevent violence.
Despite the threats, the community remains defiant. “We’re here, we’re proud, and we’re not going anywhere,” said Nyke Slawik, a Green Party MP and one of Germany’s few openly trans lawmakers. “We need to enshrine LGBTQ+ rights in our constitution and treat attacks on our community as what they are - hate crimes”.
Organisers said the record turnout was a sign of both solidarity and resistance. “Pride has always been political,” said Hassan. “And this year, it’s more political than ever”.
