Thread by @TerryReintke

I am completely exhausted after #EuroPride2022.

I am happy with what 🌈 activists pulled off yesterday.

But I am also angry.

Angry with hateful political movements attacking us.

But also angry about a political context where many still do not understand what is at stake.

First and foremost, I want you to understand what this community is going through. Especially in the Western Balkans.

I am told: We are facing an energy crisis, inflation, rising poverty. All of this is true and has to be addressed.

But always remember: LGBTI*s are facing all of these crises as well. And very often disproportionately stronger.

Many people from the community cannot find jobs because of who they are.

Many young people are facing homelessness because they are thrown out of their homes.

Plus: Many of our siblings are confronted with uncertain legal situations in their families.

Something that makes living a “normal” life - especially in times of crisis - considerably harder.

Activists living and working in ultimately precarious conditions.

Playing human rights against issues like social inequality is completely absurd.

But it is a common narrative and unfortunately not only on the right side of the political spectrum.

Just stop it.

We have to fight for social justice and fundamental rights AT THE SAME TIME.

Then: I still get a lot of feedback that the threat to LGBTI*s is marginal. A few Far Right politicians here and there, but generally we are going into the right direction.

Unfortunately, that’s false.

We are used as political bait constantly. Also by center right politicians.

And when the crises will hit harder (and they will) and political solutions to growing problems will be more tricky to find, this will get worse.

Suddenly, some people will tell you that stuff is difficult because of trans rights or some other “wokist nonsense”.

You could say: Ah well, then these minorities will have to suffer a bit, who cares?

You.

At least you should. Because the bullshit they throw at us will affect you in the end.

And that leads me to my main point.

Eventually, this is not only about our rights.

This is a battle for democracy.

Yesterday in Belgrade, we did not negotiate about same-sex marriage (however important the demand for it is).

We were faced with an attack on the fundamental right to peacefully assemble.

The anti-LGBTI* legislation in Hungary goes against our community, but at the core it is about freedom of speech.

The Far Right authoritarian movements talk about “traditional values” against “rainbow ideology”.

When this is actually about autocracy against democratic values.

They attack us.

But what they are really aiming at are our democratic institutions, separation of powers, press freedom.

So watch out. And stand with us.

Because we are defending more than ourselves here.

And finally:

What does this community do?

Thousands of activists in cold pouring rain yesterday.

After years of being marginalised, traumatised, silenced.

They march - even though the route was considerably shortened.

They discuss - even when they are being humiliated.

They show signs with political demands - even when what we are asking for should be self-evident.

They sing. They dance. They smile - even when religious fanatics are chanting their vile hatred at us.

Sometimes I think to myself:

The world does not deserve this community.

The resilience. The strength. The absolute will to make things better. But also the kindness and omnipresent love are breathtaking.

I LOVE YOU, BABES.

💗✨💕💖🌈😘💪🏼

So I want to end by thanking everyone who made this @EuroPride possible.

The organisers.

The activists.

The civil society.

All the people who came.

All the people who supported from afar. Who tweeted. Who wrote letters. Who signed petitions.

THANK YOU 🌈✨💕