More hate crimes based on sexual orientation in Saxony

The number of hate crimes against queer people in Saxony has recently risen, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs. In 2025, the police registered 163 acts related to sexual orientation or gender identity, the ministry announced. Three quarters of the cases were classified as right-wing motivated. In 2024, 140 such offenses were recorded.

Social Affairs Minister Petra Köpping called for discrimination and exclusion to be resolutely opposed. There should be no room for contemptuous attitudes towards queer people and diverse lifestyles. "The freedom and self-determination of every person to live as they wish is one of the foundations of our social order," explained the SPD politician.

Greens demand more protection for the community

Meanwhile, Saxony's Green Party is calling for all Christopher Street Days (CSD) in the state to be recognized as political gatherings. The protection of the queer community in the state must not be allowed to decline, it must be expanded, explained state leader Martin Helbig on the occasion of the International Day against Homo-, Bi-, Inter- and Trans-hostility on May 17.

Queer people are once again increasingly afraid of hostility. In addition, Christopher Street Days are coming under pressure from official harassment and political intimidation. It is a scandal that the protection of CSD in Saxony is being cut back, Helbig said.

This year, the state directorate had ruled that CSD Dresden would not be classified as an assembly in its entirety. Only the parade is an assembly, but not the multi-day street festival planned at the beginning of June. The organizers of the CSD took this to court. If it is classified as an event, the organizer must bear the full costs for security, infrastructure and cleaning.