Bridging the Void in Protection: Between State Security and Collective Safety in Times of Far-Right Mobilization Against Saxon Pride Parades

“We will get you all” – threats like these increasingly shape the reality of Pride parades in Germany. In 2024, far-right mobilization against Prides escalated in terms of organization and scale, followed by a further rise in disruptions in 2025. The federal state of Saxony has emerged as a focal point of this development. The region faced frequent, large-scale counter-mobilization and widespread anti-queer hostility. Yet, simultaneously, Saxon Pride parades witnessed strong expressions of nationwide solidarity and annually increasing participant numbers. So far, the impact of far-right counter-mobilization on Prides has generally received little scholarly attention. Addressing this gap, this community-focused research project offers initial insights: Based on survey data collected during all 17 Pride parades in Saxony in 2025 (n = 2,701) and additional document analysis, this study analyzes how far-right counter-mobilization affected the sense of safety and empowerment among Pride participants. The results show that the perception of far-right counter-mobilization has become an integral part of all Saxon Pride parades. Despite these threats and experiences of violence, Prides remain a vital moment of empowerment. While participants report high trust in each other and feel largely safe during the event, the journey to and from the parade is often perceived as unsafe. Trust in bystanders is minimal, and the role of the police is viewed with significant ambivalence. Furthermore, the comparison between different Saxon Pride parades suggests that the direct visibility and proximity of counter-protesters affect perceived safety more than their sheer numbers – a factor that is difficult to address for the state, as it is legally bound to allow counter-assemblies within sight and sound. By exposing the structural limits of state security guarantees, the study identifies a critical void in the protection of Saxon Pride parades. It argues that collective safety acts as a mechanism bridging this gap, effectively becoming a prerequisite for enabling participation in hostile environments. However, the study concludes that a comprehensive sense of safety remains unattainable while Prides are under attack.