The Prague Pride Festival takes place from August 2 to 8, and this year it will be without a procession
Updates: 24/06/2021 12:00
Released: 06/24/2021, 12:00
Prague – The Prague Pride Festival of Pride will take place this year from August 2 to 8. However, to protect against the possible spread of coronavirus, it will take place without the traditional carnival procession through Prague. The spokesman of the organizing Prague Pride association, Daniel Zikmund, told ČTK. The eleventh annual show about the life of the forest, gays, bisexuals and transgender people (LGBT +) will offer a hundred events.
“All events are connected by a common line, and that is coming out. A topic that affects not only each of LGBT + people, but also their friends, family and loved ones,” said the spokesman. He pointed to the results of a survey by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), according to which less than a fifth of LGBT + people speak openly about their minority orientation or identity.
They prepare concerts, exhibitions, film screenings, picnics, walks through Prague and debates for the organizers. All actions are implemented in accordance with applicable government anti-epidemic measures, adds Zikmund. As last year, the show will take place without a so-called rainbow procession for safety and protection against the possible spread of coronavirus. In the past, thousands of people took part, and thousands more watched the streets. “We know that the atmosphere of the parade is irreplaceable. They are happy to see the opportunity to receive the parade as well as to get to know new or lesser-known events, “said festival director Tom Bílý.
Due to security measures, more events are also taking place outside in previous years. The festival village will be established on Střelecký Island. Another place will be the Karlín Barracks and the building of the Života 90 organization in the center of the metropolis. Admission to most events is free.
The festival also took place last summer, but due to the epidemic it moved to the online environment. Even last year he was without a procession.
The Prague Pride parade with its parade first appeared in August 2011. At that time, it provoked violent protests from the Conservatives. According to them, the festival was obscene and tastelessly imposed on the ideology of homosexuality. He used the then president Václav Klaus, according to whom it was necessary to fight against this phenomenon. In the following years, the protests gradually weakened.
According to the organizers, visitors to the Prague Pride festival increased every year until 2018, when 92,000 of them arrived. The year before, there were 75,000 of them and there were 30,000 people in the parade, the organizers said earlier.