State anti-queer hostility: Saxon state government loses to CSD Dresden

For several years, the CSD in Dresden has not only been a demonstration, but also a political street festival lasting several days. The city of Dresden saw it that way for a long time. At the end of March, however, she was instructed by the Saxony State Directorateto revoke the status of a meeting from the three-day street festival. This would mean that the right to freedom of assembly would no longer be protected under the rule of law. The CSD Dresden eV successfully defended itself against this in court – with the support of the counter-legal protection agency by FragDenStaat and the Society for Civil Rights.

The Dresden Administrative Court had decided in the first instance on May 27ththat the CSD is not a gathering that is particularly protected under fundamental rights. The stationary part of the meeting with a stage should be viewed separately from the street parade, even if the CSD has announced this as a uniform concept. The CSD is “mainly entertaining in nature”. The main focus would be on “showcasing an attitude to life” of the queer community and not on expressing political opinions.

Higher Administrative Court confirms meeting status

The CSD Dresden eV, supported by Counterlegal Protection, filed a complaint with the Saxon Higher Administrative Court. With success: On June 2nd, it ordered that the CSD Dresden 2026 event should be classified as a meeting in its entirety. The association feared that a large part of the registered meeting could not have taken place or not as planned. Whether the street festival retains its meeting status must now be decided in the main proceedings.

It is particularly important that the OVG now emphasizes the high importance of freedom of assembly, which is protected by fundamental rights. Because in the environment of CSD events the number of counter-demonstrations, attempts at intimidation and attacks reaches new highs caused by right-wing extremists. The fact that there is now massive pressure from the state, such as the Saxon state government, is making the situation worse.

Threats to queer structures are not an isolated case

This approach is no exception either: it follows years of practice of pushing back queer visibility and structures in society from the state. Last year, the AfD and CDU jointly prevented cultural funding for the “Queer Weeks” from being approved in Barnim, Brandenburg“. The CDU’s fight against inclusive language and the actions of Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, who decided that no rainbow flag would be visible in front of the Bundestag during the CSD Berlinfall into the same category.

With the upcoming elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there is a risk of further repression against people who fight for queer rights and visibility. In its government program, the AfD Saxony-Anhalt speaks of “perverted-left nonsense” and “perverted-left fanatics” with regard to queer people. In addition, according to the AfD’s wishes, municipal schools, clubs and kindergartens should only receive funding if they “do not serve the perverse rainbow agenda”.

In this political and social environment, all CSD events are not entertainment shows. They are necessary political events. As such, they are inextricably linked to political messages, demands and the defense of queer visibility, realities of life, equality and protection against discrimination.

→ On the instructions of the Saxony State Directorate towards the city of Dresden

→ On the assessment notice from the city of Dresden

→ On the decision of the VG Dresden

→ On the decision of the Saxon OVG

→ For counter-legal protection