In Bremen, numerous politicians were among the participants in the march through the city center. In Jena, the organizers spoke of around 3,000 participants. According to the police, there were no incidents.
Fewer participants in Jena than organizers had hoped
In advance, the organizers in Jena had hoped for over 5,000 people. The heat apparently caused people to stay at home, said a spokeswoman. “We also know that many people went to Magdeburg or Plauen to support the CSDs there.” Right-wing counter-protests had been announced in both cities.
In Magdeburg, many participants protected themselves from temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius with colorful umbrellas or tied a rainbow flag around their necks. Loud music blared from loudspeakers on several vehicles, there were soap bubbles, singing and sometimes elaborate costumes, such as large angel wings.
A few hundred at counter demonstration in Magdeburg
Around 250 people took part in a registered counter-demonstration, it was said. Most recently, there were right-wing extremist protests in Bautzen in eastern Saxony and in Leipzig on the occasion of Christopher Street Day. These were characterized by aggression and violence against the CSD participants.
The CSD commemorates the uprisings of the queer community on Christopher Street in New York City (USA) in 1969 and stands for the visibility and equality of queer people. Other names for the CSD demonstrations, which are now held annually in many places, are “Pride Parade” or “Gay Pride”.
