Prague Pride 2022: Pride Village, parade on Letná and the expanded Petřín
Year after year, Prague will once again become the imaginary capital of the LGBTQ community in Europe. At least on week. That’s exactly how long the festival, which is about promoting equality and tolerance, will last.
The march will be supported by the Petřín lookout tower
“Prague wants to profile itself as a friendly, open and tolerant city,” says councilor for culture Hana Třeštíková (Prague to herself). For that reason, the capital city sponsored Prague Pride not only financially, but also symbolically.
“The flag is hoisted several times on the building of the Prague municipality, a rainbow crossing also appeared in front of the municipality for the second time. Rainbow flags can be seen on the streets of the city, and this year we will be too to light up the Petřín tower on the occasion of the opening of the festival and on the occasion of the Saturday parade,” the councilor told the media. This is the traditional climax of the human rights and multicultural festival on August 13.
The year 2022 – the rainbow flag, a symbol of the LGBT+ community, flies again on the building of the Prague municipality.
Author: Kristýna Svobodová
The heart matters
The director of Prague Pride, Tom Bílý, appreciates that the festival, which is organized by over 150 people every year, has the full support of the municipality, but also of the Prague 1 City Hall or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It is for all the people of the community great symbolism,” stated
This year’s motto will be the English phrase “Heart Matters” – “The heart matters”, which reminds of the similar slogan “Black Lives Matter”, which was carried around the world in connection with the deaths of African-American residents in the USA. “It is for us heart symbol of life, humanity, mutual love and respect,” Bílý explained, adding that this is exactly what the festival is supposed to be about.
“In addition, even in Western countries, hate attacks,” he points out, noting that even Prague has not avoided such manifestations in the past or today. They complained to journalists that rainbow flags, a symbol of the LGBTQ community, were displayed in the streets of Prague a week before the actual festival. But gradually they started to disappear. “A third of them are on the streets today, and that’s because we don’t live in a society that is respectful and accepting. This is also the reason why Prague Pride is needed.”
Perfect timing?
Every year, the festival arouses emotions, sometimes embarrassment. This year, even more so, as the topic of enacting equal marriage for same-sex couples is up for grabs at the parliamentary level. In the Czech Republic, this still works on the basis of the so-called registered partnership, against which people from the LGBTQ community define themselves. They perceive it “only” as a partnership, not a marriage.
“That is why the support given by the municipality to the event is all the more important this year. Today, the topical topic of marriage is here again for everyone. It is a matter of pure human experience and the question of whether we are serious about equality“, the mayor states. m Zdeněk Hřib, who proposes unions of homosexual couples on the social networks of husbands.
“I’m surprised that support for this issue is not universal. There are still people who, according to the law, divided into two groups,” the mayor added. His words are also supported by the government commissioner for human rights, Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková. “Right to dignified life and equal conditions it belongs to all of us. No one should grow up from childhood in conditions that would perhaps show that their value and dignity is less or worse than anyone else’s.”
Pleiades of actions
As Tom Bílý revealed, there will be a large number of events at the festival throughout the week, there will be many over 150while the vast majority of them will for free. It will be lectures, discussions, screenings, exhibitions. There will also be fun events. According to Hřib, the festival will attract tens of thousands of touristswhich will support tourism, which needs such support – especially after two years of coronavirus restrictions.
“Our debates are primarily focused on our own neighboring countries, bringing a new perspective on the LGBTQ community. But we also have guests from Belarus and Ukraine,” he explained, referring to what has been going on in Ukraine since February. On Strělecký ostrov all days, from afternoon to evening, the so-called Pride Village a village with various stalls, stages or picnic areas, rental places for blankets, board games and much more.
Rainbow parade on Letná
On August 13, there will be a traditional parade through Prague, when the festival will take to the streets of the capital city in various, often controversial and provocative costumes. Year after year, there was one limitation with the parade, primarily in terms of transportation. This year, however, according to Bíly, the restriction should decrease.
Namely, the rainbow parade he will not go down Revoluční Street, as was the custom, but the historical core of the metropolis. The route will lead from The bridge of the streets of Staré Město over the Čechův most to Letná. The final concert of the festival will be held there, the safe conduct of which will be supervised not only by Police of the Czech Republic and city policebut also according to the organizers security Agency.
The rainbow tram passed through Prague. (2018) Eva Fornálova
Prague Pride 2019 rainbow parade.
Author: Blesk: Photo: Czech News Center / Rušinová Mária