Thousands of people took to the streets of Berlin on Saturday as revelers marched for LGBT+ rights on Christopher Street Day.

The day commemorates riots that broke out in New York in 1969 after police raided a gay bar. It is seen as a turning point for the gay rights movement and has been celebrated in Germany since 1979.

This year, many people demonstrated against hate crimes against LGBT+ people which increased by 36 percent in 2020.

Ulli Pridal, a board member of Christopher Street Day Berlin, said: "It is very important to highlight that safe places for people in the community have been reduced in the past year and a half since the pandemic started. And that is why we are going with 'Save our community' because it is very important to have (these shelters)."

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A total of 782 crimes targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were reported last year, about 150 of which involved violence, police data showed.

"It is very, very important to be here because the attacks are happening more and more. Our safe places have been closed for a year and a half and these were places in which we could live the way we are. And we have to make ourselves present again," Cathrinsche, a demonstrator who attended the event in Berlin, said.

Recent surveys have shown that 13 percent of LGBT+ Germans say they have been the victim of a violent attack on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Hungary bans homosexuality promotion in schools

Elsewhere in Europe, Hungary is facing a backlash for banning the material that the government deems promotes homosexuality in schools.

The European Parliament has condemned the country's actions and has voted to use its legal and economic muscle to pressure Hungary to repeal the legislation.

Amid the pressure from within Hungary, as well as elsewhere across the EU, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said his government plans to hold a referendum later this year or early next year.