Why I Still Go to CSD – Now as a Puppy

Kitsune Lilith is a queer person in Germany. She belongs to the kink community. At CSD, she wears a Puppy mask. It looks like a dog's face.

Many people ask her why she does this. Some don't understand it. Others find it strange or uncomfortable. But Kitsune has a clear reason.

Visibility is very important to her. She says: being visible is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Especially now as politics in Germany are changing.

In Sachsen-Anhalt, the AfD won big at elections. The AfD is a right-wing conservative party. It often criticizes LGBTQ+ rights. For queer people, this result feels like a threat.

Kitsune says she keeps going for that reason. She wants to show that queer people exist. She refuses to hide. Not even when the political climate gets harder.

CSD stands for Christopher Street Day. It is a major queer demonstration and parade. CSD began as protest. In 1969, queer people in New York fought for their rights. That was on Christopher Street.

For Kitsune, CSD remains a political statement. It is not just a party. She goes to show: we exist. We are here. And we will not leave.

She acknowledges that the kink community sometimes causes debate. Not everyone in the LGBTQ+ community agrees about kink visibility at public events. But Kitsune believes in radical inclusivity. Everyone can be themselves. Even at CSD.

Her message is clear: Pride is a protest march. It is a celebration of who you are. And it is a signal to politics. As long as queer people face threats, she will stand in the streets. With her Puppy mask held high.