The Berlin Pride terrorist attack was a wake-up call. Although the LGBT+ community has made great progress in overturning homophobic laws in many countries, this attack shows that our safety is precarious. There are still people who want to kill us, even in Europe. We cannot take our wellbeing for granted. What happened in Berlin is a reminder that the price of LGBT+ freedom is eternal vigilance.
In the shadow of this attack and with heightened security, World Pride takes place this week in Amsterdam. As well as remembering the Berlin victims, the participants will be mindful that 66 countries still criminalise members of the LGBT community, six Commonwealth nations have life imprisonment, 12 states stipulate the death penalty and over 40 territories penalise trans and gender non-conforming people. In about 30 countries, LGBT people are suffering escalating repression.
