‘They Have to Be Loud’: German grandma Regina Nagel speaks out as LGBTQ+ rights targeted in her country
– 2 min read
In Germany, LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations are often known as Christopher Street Day (CSD) - a vibrant time of parades, protests and community gatherings. Each July, major cities across the country come alive with colour and solidarity.
As Germany prepares for over 200 Pride events this summer, a growing wave of far-right hostility is casting a shadow over celebrations. Organisers across the country - particularly in eastern regions - are facing threats, intimidation, and coordinated counter-demonstrations from extremist groups.
In cities like Bautzen, Leipzig and Regensburg, Pride marches have been disrupted or even cancelled due to safety concerns. In one alarming case, a 20-year-old man in Wernigerode allegedly threatened to open fire on a local CSD event; police later discovered ammunition in his home.
The far right, including neo-Nazi groups and members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is using these events to promote so-called “straight Pride” under the banner Stolzmonat - a deliberate attempt to undermine LGBTQ+ visibility.
Experts warn that this shift reflects a broader trend: the far right is increasingly weaponising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric to gain political traction and recruit new followers. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people in Germany reached a record high in 2023, with 1,785 incidents reported.
Regina Nagel - a German Catholic religious educator and member of Omas gegen Rechts Deutschland e.V. (Grandmas Against Right-Wing Germany) - shared her reflections on attending a CSD event in Heilbronn, a a city in southwest Germany. Writing for Katholisch.de, she recounted how some bystanders grumbled about the noise. Though she herself isn’t fond of loud sounds, she responded firmly: “They have to be loud because their rights are under threat!”
She went on to explain: “The general message of the CSD speeches was: ‘We are here for everyone who doesn’t dare to be here.’ In Heilbronn, a few hundred people gathered, while in Cologne the next day, over a million activists and spectators took to the streets. It’s vital to stand up for those who feel they can’t.”
Nagel’s reflections continued with heartfelt advice: “My Pride insight: Some noise is welcome. Some noise is absolutely necessary. There are many ways to show up and stand for human rights - even for those who are quieter, and especially for those who feel called by the gospel. To remain silent is to become complicit in the injustices that marginalise, threaten, and harm others.”
