By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS — LGBT Politics Europe
BERLIN — (July 25, 2025) — As Berlin gears up for its annual Pride parade, tensions are rising across Germany, where far-right extremist groups have already staged 17 anti-Pride protests in 2025, forcing some cities to cancel LGBTQ+ events altogether.
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In the historic queer district near Nollendorfplatz, locals like Georg Schmidt recall increased police presence and fear during Pride celebrations. “We only felt safe because police kept the extremists away,” he told JRL CHARTS.
Adding fuel to the fire, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner has banned rainbow flags from flying on the parliament building and prohibited staff from attending Pride in any official capacity. Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed the move, saying “the Bundestag is not a circus tent,” sparking outrage from across the political spectrum.
Opposition lawmaker Nyke Slawik condemned the ban, stating, “Queer people are not an ideology — they are people,” as hate crimes targeting LGBTQ+ individuals continue to surge.
Even within the ruling party, LGBTQ advocates like Sönke Siegmann are pushing back. “There’s still ignorance about what ‘queer’ means. But even Merz used the term in Parliament after we explained it to him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Berlin’s queer community remains defiant. Boutique owner Chris Kelly described facing rental discrimination and verbal abuse despite being located in the heart of Berlin’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood. “Hatred is becoming mainstream again,” he warned.
In response to the flag ban, the Berlin Transport Authority turned the Bundestag subway stop into a rainbow tribute, declaring, “Our Bundestag is ready for Pride.”
Stay with JRL CHARTS for breaking updates on LGBTQ+ politics in Europe as Germany faces renewed battles over Pride, visibility, and equality.
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