Prague Pride features Romani float again, award given to LGBT and Romani activist David Tišer
Yesterday the carnival of LGBT pride known as the Prague Pride Parade marched through the streets of the Czech capital, the ninth time the “rainbow march” has been held here. Starting at noon, the march began on Wenceslas Square and continued across the river to the Letná plain.
Organizers had announced to City Hall that 30 000 participants were anticipated. Ahead of the parade’s start, leading figures were given awards for advancing and supporting equal rights for the LGBT community.
One awardee this year was David Tišer, who is a member of both the LGBT and Romani communities. ROMEA TV broadcast the beginning of the Prague Pride march live online.
Featuring 20 floats, the parade began assembling on the upper part of Wenceslas Square at 11:30. One hour later, it set off down Na Příkopě Street toward Republic Square (náměstí Republiky).
From there the parade continued down Revoluční and Řásnovká Streets along the Dvořák Embankment and across the Čechův most bridge to the stairs that lead up the hill to the Letná plain, where a musical program followed. Parents with young children or people with mobility issues were able to take a free bus up to Letná plain.
One of the floats represented the Romani community. Called “ARA”, the float traveled at the center of the parade and had been arranged, as in previous years, by the ARA ART organization.
Ever since last year, Prague Pride has been led by a trio of marshals. That honor is given to people who have advanced and supported equal rights for the LGBT community.
This year the title was given to the actor Jiří Hromada, who for years was a leader of the gay movement in the Czech Republic and contributed to the adoption of its law on registered partnership. Other marshals of the parade were Czech MP Karla Šlechtová (ANO) and the Romani activist David Tišer.
The march featured a rainbow flag that was 50 meters long. Those marching were organized into several zones.
The “quiet” zone was for those who had brought their dogs or young children with them. The very first zone belonged to the “We are Fair” (Jsme fér) initiative, which advocates marriage for all.
People marching in that zone wore white to symbolize wedding apparel. Diplomats from 11 countries also marched on the Prague Pride route.
The heads of diplomatic missions from 16 states also signed a joint declaration about equal rights for LGBT people. Prague City Hall also flew the rainbow flag for the very first time this year to support the Prague Pride festival.
