Preparations for this year’s Christopher Street Days (CSDs) are underway in Thuringia as well. Through late summer, the state plans a total of 13 events — plus a Dyke March in Weimar to demonstrate lesbian visibility.
Besides cities like Jena (June 20), Weimar (June 27), and Erfurt (September 5), rainbow parades have taken place and continue to take place in smaller communities such as Neustadt/Orla, Sonneberg, Suhl, or Mühlhausen.
“The goal is to build more acceptance for queer people so that no one has to hide,” said Matthias Gothe of the Jena-based association QueerWeg.
The organizers see themselves facing growing challenges. One of the biggest problems is the increasing threat, especially from the far-right spectrum, according to spokespeople from CSD Gera, Mühlhausen, Weimar, and Erfurt.
“For our CSD in Mühlhausen, the sometimes fueled hostility mood worries us,” said a spokesperson for the organizing team. “Nevertheless, we also receive a lot of support — which shows even more that our work is right.”
When Visibility Needs Protection
Particularly the smaller CSDs are disproportionately affected by disruptions and hostility, Gothe noted from the Jena association. Last year, ten of the eleven demonstrations for queer rights in Thuringia experienced incidents in the form of insults or even assaults. “This problem has clearly risen in recent years.”
This also affects participants. While some stayed away out of fear, there are also always people who do not identify as queer but join in solidarity at the peaceful demonstrations.
Especially the arrival and departure of participants now often occur in groups or incognito due to fear of hostility. For the LGBTQ demonstrations themselves, security concepts are now being developed, Gothe said. “That’s a new dimension that didn’t exist before.”
Funding problems also cause issues. For example, the CSD in Gera no longer receives financial support from the federal program “Demokratie leben!” While withdrawals in other cities have been mitigated by donations, it is significantly more difficult in Gera, according to the board.
In Weimar, the organizers criticize a lack of support from the city. The current developments are very regrettable, Gothe said. “The carefree mood has partly vanished. There is more concern and caution.”
From Protest to a Firm Tradition
According to Gothe, the first CSD in Thuringia took place in 1999 in Jena. The event there remains the largest of its kind in Thuringia. In addition to the parades, the Thüringen CSDs also feature readings, workshops, and other events.
The CSD commemorates the uprisings of the queer community at Christopher Street in New York City in 1969 and stands for visibility and equality for queer people. The nationwide CSD season 2026 began on April 11 in Angermünde (TheColu.mn reported). The finale will take place in Emmendingen, Herzogenaurach, Kaiserlautern, Landshut, and Stendal on September 26. All CSD dates for 2026 can be found here.
