BERLIN, July 23 (Reuters) - Prominent German LGBTQ+ rights activist Anastasia Biefang has expressed concerns about an increase in homophobic and anti-transgender violence and abuse in the country, comparing it to rhetoric used by the Nazis. It's not only a shame, it's also worrying," she told Reuters in an interview on Saturday, adding that "transphobic, queerphobic, homophobic violence is also increasing significantly" in Berlin. In recent decades, the German capital has been known for having an accepting culture towards gender and sexual minorities. Biefang said it was of particular concern that the growing backlash against LGBTQ+ rights was being fuelled by supporters of far-right parties. There has been a pushback against gay and trans rights in other parts of Europe, too.

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Persons: Anastasia Biefang, Biefang, Christopher, It's, it's, Insa, Viktor Orban, Nadja Wohlleben, Christoph Steitz, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Ministry, Reuters, European Union, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Berlin, Germany, Europe, Hungarian