At the start of this year’s Pride season, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation is warning of an increasing threat from far-right groups. In 2024, the foundation documented a total of 55 targeted disruptions, threats, and attacks on Pride events (CSDs) – more than ever before. This alarming tally affects events in cities like Berlin, Leipzig, Cologne, Dresden, Magdeburg, Görlitz, and Essen – with a particular focus on eastern Germany and rural areas in the west.

The perpetrators often acted in an organized manner, appeared aggressively, chanted anti-queer and racist slogans, and committed acts of physical violence. “The increase in targeted attacks on Pride events by far-right groups is an alarming signal,” said Vera Ohlendorf, Head of Project Funding at the Amadeu Antonio Foundation. “Today, CSDs are not only spaces of queer visibility but also central battlegrounds in the fight for democratic spaces.”

One particularly drastic example was the CSD in Bautzen, where around 700 far-right extremists massively disrupted the demonstration. The final rally had to be canceled for security reasons, and the police appeared overwhelmed. Even before the event, the organizing team’s office had been attacked. Only thanks to early security measures funded by the foundation and the firm stance of Mayor Klaus Vogt were more serious assaults prevented.

The foundation warns of an ongoing mobilization potential of violent neo-Nazi groups, who are once again calling for disruptions of the 2025 Pride season – especially online. “Anti-feminist and anti-queer campaigns are increasingly forming the ideological backbone of far-right mobilization. Young, brutal, and extremely violence-prone youths are being socialized into right-wing extremist contexts through these targeted appeals, where they often have their first experiences with violence,” explains Selina Alin, who monitors the attacks on Pride events for the foundation. “Pride events are becoming deliberate targets of right-wing extremists, who link traditional gender roles with hatred of queer people and racist agitation. Among often underage boys, this expression of supposed strength finds particularly fertile ground.”

Despite the threats, solidarity is growing: over 180 Pride events took place across Germany in 2024 – more than ever before. Especially in smaller towns and rural areas, supporters from larger cities are strengthening local initiatives. Pride events in Eastern Germany have thus become not only expressions of queer visibility but also powerful symbols of democratic civil society standing up against far-right territorial claims.

The Amadeu Antonio Foundation calls for:

• Security concepts and protective measures at Pride events – including for travel to and from the events. Law enforcement and administrative authorities must be trained to recognize and respond to anti-queer and far-right threats.

• Political backing from municipalities and state governments, along with targeted funding to promote acceptance of sexual and gender diversity.

• Consistent prosecution of anti-queer attacks, including those occurring online.

• Preservation and expansion of counseling centers for victims of right-wing extremist violence.

Protecting Queer Visibility – Support Urgently Needed

For years, the Amadeu Antonio Foundation has supported Pride events in particularly at-risk regions with consulting, accompaniment, and targeted funding for security measures. To continue actively protecting vulnerable events, the foundation is appealing for donations. In 2024 alone, Pride events in cities such as Zwickau, Altenburg, Sonneberg, Itzehoe, and Görlitz were supported with security advice and financial aid – and demand is growing this year.

Chronicle of Attacks on CSDs: www.csd-schuetzen.de