Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu

On Saturday 12 July 2025, thousands of people gathered in Esch-sur-Alzette to participate in Luxembourg’s annual Pride parade to celebrate diversity and promote the rights of people belonging to LGBTIQ+ communities.

The parade, organised by Rosa Lëtzebuerg, was part of the 26th edition of Luxembourg Pride, which dates back 1999 when the first event was held under the name "Gay Mat”.  Additional events took place in the build-up to the parade, with the National Ceremony of Remembrance for Victims of LGBTIQ+-Phobic Acts held in Esch-sur-Alzette on Monday 7 July and the “Pride Run” taking place in Luxembourg City on Thursday 10 July. 

Crowds of between 2,500 and 3,000 people, many dressed in celebratory rainbow colours, participated in the march through the streets of Esch-sur-Alzette before a series of speeches and concerts took place across the town.

Luxembourg’s Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, Yuriko Backes, spoke at the parade and reaffirmed her commitment to the Pride 2025 slogan “Stand United against the Backlash”.

Minister Backes said: “In recent years, we have witnessed a rise in movements that openly question the progress made in terms of rights for people belonging to LGBTIQ+ communities. These trends are not only emerging at the local and national levels, but also across Europe, attempting to undermine the foundations of our free society. We are standing against this regression and we continue to build a more equal and inclusive future together.”

She added: “This fundamental challenge is no longer expressed behind closed doors but is now openly shared and spread in the form of hate speech in both digital spaces and public forums. We must not be under any illusion: words turn into actions—this is one of the persistent lessons of history. As Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, I will not stand idly by. Together with my government colleagues and in cooperation with all civil society actors, we will continue our efforts to safeguard and strengthen the rights of LGBTIQ+ citizens.”