Unsettling aggression: Examining the wave of far-right attacks during LGBTQ protests this summer
In the summer of 2024, Pride events across Germany were marked by a concerning rise in far-right hostility, heavy police presence, and clashes with law enforcement, particularly in Bautzen, Leipzig, and Berlin.
In Bautzen, Saxony, the Pride parade was guarded by a strong police presence due to threats from far-right extremist groups. Last year, around 700 far-right counter-protesters opposed around 1,000 Pride participants, leading organizers to increase security for the 2025 event. However, another Pride event in Gelsenkirchen was canceled due to similar threats.
Berlin's Pride event, especially in the Marzahn district, required an even heavier police presence to prevent violence amid a politically charged atmosphere with rising anti-LGBTQ+ incidents. Around 17 far-right protests targeted Pride events across Germany in 2025, leading some cities to cancel their parades for safety reasons.
Leipzig, like Bautzen and Berlin, experienced a counter-demonstration by neo-Nazis during the Leipzig CSD on August 17, 2024. Fortunately, the police were able to prevent it from becoming violent.
The current situation has raised questions about Germany's commitment to protecting its queer community. Berlin's LGBTQ+ activists emphasize their defiance despite threats and urge the enshrinement of LGBTQ+ rights in the constitution and classification of hate crimes. However, police violence has been reported, notably against peaceful protesters expressing solidarity with Palestine, including at a queer counter-pride event.
The events in Berlin have also highlighted a perceived double standard in how freedom of speech is applied to different groups. A quote circulating on social media states: "A Nazi protest against queer people is freedom of opinion. A protest against war crimes and genocide is a criminal act."
Videos emerged online the day after the Bautzen CSD showing white men in black burning rainbow flags and displaying aggressive behaviour. On August 17, 2024, neo-Nazis held another counter-demonstration during the Leipzig CSD. Similarly, during the Dyke March Berlin and Internationalist Queer Pride on July 26 and 27, 2024, videos of police violence against queer protesters were shared online. However, the same media did not take significant action against the neo-Nazis in Bautzen who were shouting during their counter-demonstration.
Despite the challenges, communities remain committed to visibility and resistance. The quote on social media serves as a reminder that freedom of speech should be applied equally to all, and the ongoing police violence against LGBTQ+ activists and broader protest groups calls for urgent action and reform.
In thelight of rising far-right hostility and counter-demonstrations, many Pride events in Germany experienced increased police presence, such as the Pride parade in Bautzen, Leipzig, and Berlin. These events, including the Dyke March Berlin and Internationalist Queer Pride, have drawn attention to controversies surrounding freedom of speech and the application of police actions towards different groups.
