The Prague Pride Festival will be without a carnival parade this year as well
“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 in the Czech Republic.
For visitors, the organizers prepare concerts, exhibitions, film screenings, picnics, walks through Prague and debates. All actions are carried out in accordance with the government’s anti-epidemic measures in force, Zikmund emphasized. 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. We would like visitors to perceive the absence of the parade also as an opportunity to get to know new or lesser-known events, “said festival director Tom Bílý.
More events in the open air
Subsequently, security measures are also taken more events than in previous annual implementations outside. The festival village is 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 will take place for the first time 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. This concept was used by the then President Václav Klaus, according to which 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 30,000 people went in the procession, the organizers said earlier.