For the first time in 9 years, on 10 August 2019 it rained on us throughout the march. We knew it was bound to happen at some point, and it happened this year! We are however immensely happy that the rain could not stop the participants to the biggest gay pride in Central and Eastern Europe. According to estimates, there were 30,000 in the parade.

Most of all we are happy that people not only gathered at Vaclavske Namesti, but also accompanied us along the route and stayed until the end of the program in the Pride Park at Letna. Mobile phone operator estimates of the crowd size at Letna should be known in a few days.

The Parade

There were 21 floats in the 2019 Prague Pride parade and 3 Mini Coopers with Pride Marshals. Those were Jiri Hromada for lifetime achievements in the service of the LGBT community, Karla Slechtova as a representative of the LGBT community in the public sphere, and David Tiser for his service to the LGBT and Roma communities.

The first float was the Prague Pride float. Its design commemorated historic landmarks in the fight for LGBT rights in the world and in the Czech Republic. The Initiative for equal marriage had its own float carrying a statue of Justice followed by people in white wedding attire. As usual there were the floats of the queer film festival Mezipatra, Amnesty International and the Roma group ARA ART. We are glad that the Pirates Party joined the parade this year, again.

Among the companies supporting LGBT rights and diversity we could see this year in the parade Accenture, ADP and eBay, Amazon, Google, IBM, Kiwi, Mama Shelter, Microsoft, SAP. The Hunter company sent its VW Beetle, and the icecream company Ben&Jerrys its mini automobile.

The youngest participants were able to ride in a childrens train, and the seniors were able to use two sightseeing buses with  transparent ceilings. The 50 meter-long rainbow flag was also present!

Those who could not be with us were at least able to follow the parade on-line, in a commented stream, on the Facebook profile of the Prague Pride.

Pride Park

At the Pride Park on Letna there were 4 music stages. Vodafone Main Stage featured Czech and international drag queens and a number of foreign singers. Full Moon Stage and Stalin Stage were home to DJs, Hot Chocolate Stage presented live performances by Roma artists and the drag queens of Crazy Goddess. The Pride Ball tent hosted vogue dance with international participation.

The community zone attracted many people, despite the fact that the grass was wet and the trees were drippig water. A few examples of events hosted there: the very popular meeting with the visually impaired lesbian R. Hladisova, the asexual meeting, slam poetry etc.

HIV testing

449 people underwent tests in the air-conditioned testing tent – there were 445 tests for HIV, 379 tests for syphilis, 249 for hepatitis B and 393 for hepatitis C. The Czech AIDS relief society this year managed to reach and almost lab-type standard thanks to the GeneExpert machine, which was developed by the U.S. armed forces for field testing in war zones. The equipment is recommended by the World Health Organization and was made available, with staff, by the Bio-Vendor – Lab medicine. Thanks to that, the clients could be tested in a precise and reliable manner within 2 hours.

A total of 4 samples were sent from Letna to the National infection lab for HIV testing, and 10 to be checked for syphilis. In the case of HIV it was the same number as last year, the syphilis suspicions however have doubled. Additionally, there were 2 confirmed cases of hepatitis B and 2 of hepatitis C.

Enjoyed Prague Pride?

The costs of the week-long festival are 4 million crowns. It is very important for us that all the essential events should be admission-free for all. We receive financial support from various sources: grants, sponsor gifts, merchandise sales, renting out tents at Letna, and also individual contributions.

The Prague Pride festival has a deeper social meaning than your ordinary summer festival. If you enjoyed Prague Pride 2019, please support its continued organization with a donation of your choice, according to your means. We thank you all in advance!

Parade and Pride Park photos: Patrick Hácha

HIV testing tent photos: Jiří Pavlát