Colorful and loud: the first CSD in Balingen inspires thousands!

Colorful and loud: the first CSD in Balingen inspires thousands!

A colorful spectacle took place in Balingen on September 6, 2025, when the first Christopher Street Day (CSD) was celebrated in the city. Under the motto “Show diversity, live attitude”, the Jusos Zollernalb and the Immerwaslos association mobilized around 400 participants to fight for the visibility of queer people in rural areas. The parade marched through the city center, accompanied by numerous onlookers who contributed to the celebration of diversity with posters, flags and soap bubbles. The CSD had a lot to offer: In addition to the parade, there were information stands from organizations such as Feuervogel, AIDS-Hilfe Tübingen-Reutlingen and the Zollernalbkreis Anti-Discrimination Association to disseminate important information about queer issues.

In the speeches, among others by Peter Demmer (Immerwaslos) and Dominik Ochs (co-district chairman SPD Zollernalb), the need to make queer lifestyles visible in society was emphasized. What is particularly exciting is that the CSD in Balingen has established itself compared to similar events in the region, after the first CSD in the Zollernalb district took place in Albstadt-Ebingen a year ago. The [
Schwarzälder messenger ] reports that the event was well attended despite looming challenges.

A symbol of diversity and tolerance

With this CSD, the city of Balingen has sent a strong signal for diversity and tolerance. The aim is to make it clear that queer life and its recognition also belong in rural areas. Organizers stressed that the threat posed by far-right counter-protesters, who have played a role in similar events in the past, cannot be ignored. There were riots and an increased security presence, which the [
Swabian ] once again emphatically recorded it.

All measures were taken to offer the participants a safe environment. The rally began at 5 p.m. on the Plaza, followed by the parade, which ran through the city center to the Eberthalle. From 7 p.m. there was another program in the Eberthalle until the event concluded around 10 p.m.

Historical perspective and the current threat

The CSD in Balingen is part of a Germany-wide Pride season that looks back on a long history of the fight for equality. Loud [
Deutschlandfunk culture ], the Pride parades are a reflection of the long-standing commitment to the rights of the LGBTQI* community. Historically, discrimination against queer people goes back to the Empire, where the first activists, like Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, advocated for equality.

The community is currently facing a new wave of discrimination, as anti-queer crimes in Germany are at an all-time high, according to current statistics. The return of right-wing extremist groups and their protests against queer events, like in Balingen, have only further strengthened this drive to fight. This once again makes it clear how crucial it is to send a strong signal at events like the CSD and to enter into dialogue with the public.

With convincing speeches and a lively setting, the CSD in Balingen impressively underlined the importance of tolerance and the visibility of queer people - a step in the right direction that should be followed in the region.