Prague Pride kicks off with performance by the Pet Shop Boys
Prague Pride has kicked off and this year features over a hundred events including a performance this evening by the Pet Shop Boys.
The 4th annual pride to take place in Prague takes place this week, and aims to provide support to LGBT communities in countries where pride or public events are prohibited. The pride parade will pass through Prague on Saturday, and organisers expect over 20,000 attendees.
PinkNews publisher Benjamin Cohen will also speak at the event on the fight for same-sex marriage in the UK, how it was achieved in England, Wales and Scotland, and will urge the Czech Republic to push for the same.
Others speaking will include Boris Dittrich, a Dutch MP who helped pass the same-sex marriage law, Olga Kurachyova, a Russian journalist, and many others.
This evening will see a performance by the Pet Shop Boys at Forum Karlin.
LGBT Avatars have been launched this year, allonw gay and lesbians from around the world to log in to LGBTavatars.eu, in order to be represented in the parade. They can see a stream of pictures, videos and messages directly to them, and can assign tasks to those attending the parade.
“In Moscow, gay prides have been prohibited till 2112, while Kiev Pride could not take place last year. The Budapest Pride parade can only be held at closed streets due to riots and attacks,“ Czeslaw Walek the head of Prague Pride said.
A total of 117 events will take place across Prague for the pride event this week.
This year’s Prague Pride Village will be at Containall at Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana). The Village will host concerts, workshops and debates all week long. Every day will end with a screening of one of the movies from the LGBT film festival Mezipatra.
The festival program is pieced together by dozens of LGBT organizations, bars, cafes, cultural institutes embassies and other supporters.
An exhibition of large format photos, by renowned Vietnamese photographer Maika Elan, titled the Pink Choice, will introduce 15 gay and lesbian couples from Hanoi and other Vietnamese cities.
The American Embassy in Prague will once again support Prague Pride this year by lighting up its Glorietta pavilion in rainbow colours. The Ambassador Norman L Eisen whose term is ending this August is prolonging his stay to attend the opening ceremony.
Surveys reveal Czech Republic to be the most LGBT tolerant post-Communist state, however there is still a large population who are against LGBT rights. Just under 50% were against same-sex marriage.
