Pride organisers across Germany are bracing for a difficult season as far-right groups increase their efforts to disrupt LGBTQ+ celebrations. In 2025, over 200 Pride events are scheduled nationwide—but many now face threats, intimidation, and counter-demonstrations, particularly in eastern Germany.
In Bautzen, a city in the state of Saxony, organisers are preparing for a significant far-right counterprotest when their parade takes place in August. The demonstrators—many of them teenagers—include neo-Nazis and members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who are reportedly using the events to recruit young, disillusioned Germans.
“Man and woman. The true foundation of life,” reads an online post promoting one such protest.
The far-right’s campaign is being coordinated under the banner of “Stolzmonat”, a twist on the German term for Pride Month, rebranded by extremists to promote “straight pride” and so-called traditional values.
“Stolzmonat is an alternative that seeks to consciously counter the forced change… setting an example of traditional values, family ties and stability in uncertain times,” read a statement from AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, where the party has gained electoral ground.
AfD has become Germany’s largest opposition party in the federal parliament as of February and won a state-level election for the first time last year.
Pride Events Cancelled Amid Safety Concerns
This growing hostility has already led to event cancellations. In Gelsenkirchen, authorities cancelled a Pride march in May after receiving intelligence about an imminent threat. Similarly, police intervened at a June Pride march in Eberswalde after a nearby diversity festival was attacked days earlier.
In Berlin’s Marzahn district, police thwarted an attempted attack during a Pride march just two weeks ago. Last year, officers intercepted 28 individuals—half of them minors—planning to disrupt Berlin Pride.
In 2024, 27 Pride events, mostly in eastern regions, were targeted by far-right groups, according to CeMAS, a non-profit monitoring extremist activity. The perpetrators were often young men involved in neo-Nazi groups.
“For a long time, the German far right focused on migration, Islam, E.U. scepticism, and the coronavirus,” said Sabine Volk, a researcher at the University of Tübingen. “But in the aftermath of the pandemic, we have seen an increased focus on queer-phobia, anti-LGBTQ+ discourse and, since last year, protest activities.”
Hate Crimes on the Rise, But So Is Resistance
The German government reported 1,785 hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people in 2023—a new high. While the violence and rhetoric have escalated, so too has the resolve among organisers and communities.
“The threats are much harsher online because of the supposed anonymity,” said Lea Krause, a Bautzen Pride organiser. “But it’s tough on the street too, simply because you’re face to face with people. And they know exactly who you are, and you also know who they are.”
Despite the danger, Krause and others remain determined.
“People in Bautzen really want to go through with this,” she said. “We are very, very brave and empowered to keep on going.”
With far-right opposition mounting, Germany’s LGBTQ+ community is holding firm, reclaiming visibility, resilience, and Pride.
