Thousands celebrate CSD: A strong sign of diversity in Lower Saxony!

Thousands celebrate CSD: A strong sign of diversity in Lower Saxony!

Hildesheim, Deutschland - thousands of people on June 21, 2025 in Oldenburg and Hildesheim at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) set a colorful sign of diversity and tolerance. In summer temperatures around 30 degrees, around 10,000 participants moved to the streets in Oldenburg, while in Hildesheim about 5,000 people demonstrated for queer rights and visibility in Hildesheim. These two events once again show how important it is to stand up for respectful coexistence and to show that love counts in all its forms. As ndr , the celebrations in Oldenburg and Hildesheim were peaceful.

The CSD in Oldenburg, which took place for the 31st time, started with a cultural festival in the morning, followed by an impressive parade through the city center. The spokeswoman for the Hildesheimer CSD, Ray Wieber, was pleased with the great participation after the first CSD in her city and emphasized the important message behind the event. At a time when attacks on queer people have a worrying increase, as recently in Emden and Burgdorf, it is all the more important to maintain and promote visibility for the LGBTQIA+community.

a sign of tolerance and respect

The events at the CSDs did not take place without challenges. The organizers referred to the need to hold together even in difficult times. At a CSD in Hanover in May in May, violent incidents, including attacks and sexual harassment, had severely worried the participants. Here, some participants were also injured, which further increased the already tense situation in the community. In this situation, events such as the CSD, which are reminiscent of the protests from 1969 in New York, win a new urgency. Well-known media such as Tagesschau report on the rising threat, the queer life, especially in East Germany.

At the same time, the CSD in Düsseldorf shows, where on the same day the motto "Love connects - hatred" was in the foreground, the positive side of such events. There, around 7,300 people brought their message of love and acceptance through the city, accompanied by a colorful street festival. More than 50 groups took part in the demo and underlined the collective striving for more visibility. For the organizers, it is not just about celebrations, but also about starting tolerance, especially with regard to upcoming local elections.

together strong for queer rights

These CSDs are not only a place of celebration, but also a victory of courage and solidarity against the increasing attacks of right -wing extremist groups. The Federal Government's queer officer, Sven Lehmann, recently warned of the endangerment of LSBTIQ*people from authoritarian and right-wing extremists and emphasized the need for continuous engagement against hostility. The community begins to network more at a time when visibility and educational work for queer life are particularly important in rural regions.

In the end, it can be stated: The high number of participants in Oldenburg, Hildesheim and Düsseldorf show that the queer community holds together despite adverse circumstances. In Osnabrück and in many other places the CSD fell out colorful and peaceful, and that is a sign that love will always win.