Cologne's CSD in danger: Merz's circus tent statement causes a stir!

Cologne's CSD in danger: Merz's circus tent statement causes a stir!

Cologne is celebrating “Cologne Pride” this weekend, and the anticipation is palpable. But the mood in the LGBTQ community is tense and characterized by various hostilities. This has been further reinforced by the current statements made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in an ARD talk show. Merz had criticized Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU)'s decision not to raise the rainbow flag at this year's Pride event and dismissed the whole thing with a comparison to the circus tent. This statement caused a wave of outrage among queer activists and supporters, as raising the flag is a powerful symbol of recognition and diversity. Katharina Dröge, the leader of the Green Party, called on the Chancellor to take part in the parade on Sunday in order to leave a purified impression on the participants, as he also had to overcome the increasing hostility against queer people. As tagesspiegel.de reports, tens of thousands of participants are expected, making “Cologne Pride” the largest pride event in Europe.

The background to this outrage is alarming: According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, there were 1,765 reported incidents related to sexual orientation last year, an increase of 18 percent compared to 2023. Particularly worrying is the increase in attacks on trans and non-binary people, of which 1,152 represent an increase of 35 percent. These developments cast a shadow over the weekend, which was actually supposed to take place in a colorful celebratory mood. Even Rangnick at br.de notice that political rhetoric is not only expressed in words, but also in reality, which is becoming increasingly threatening.

The dangers and challenges

The CSD events are increasingly faced with challenges. For example, the parade in Gelsenkirchen was canceled due to an “abstract threat situation,” while the number of right-wing extremist attacks on queer events increased to 55 in 2024, according to the Amadeu Antonio Foundation. The Cologne police have therefore developed a comprehensive security concept that doubles the number of security forces compared to the previous year. This has also increased the security budget to 20 times the 2017 expenditure in order to better respond to possible threats, as tagesschau.de reports.

The Cologne police have asked the approximately 60,000 participants expected this year not to report any specific threats. Despite the increased security precautions, organizers rarely emphasize pride and resistance to this intimidation. An additional “awareness tent” will be set up to help people who need support. An important sign of solidarity with the queer community becomes even clearer in these difficult times. Yvonne Fahrenholz reports that everyday experiences of harassment have increased and emphasizes the importance of uniting voices for equality and diversity in these challenging times.

While Christopher Street Day commemorates the historical struggles of the LGBTQ community, Cologne Pride should not only be a celebration, but also a call to stand up against discrimination and violence. The weekend will be marked by a mix of celebrations and serious arguments - a reminder that the fight for equality is not yet won, even in this day and age.