PRAGUE - Today the capital hosted the climax of the 15th annual Prague Pride festival, which culminated in the traditional rainbow parade. Tens of thousands of people set off from Wenceslas Square shortly after noon and marched through the centre of Prague to Letná Plain amid singing, dancing and chanting. There the programme continues into the evening with concerts, discussions and cultural performances.
The parade lasted approximately two and a half hours. No serious incidents were reported by the police. "The event was peaceful, with no disturbance of public order. Police officers did not have to deal with any conflicts," police spokesman Jan Daněk told the Czech News Agency. At 14:30, traffic in the centre of the capital was already operating without restrictions.
The organizers of this year's Prague Pride emphasized the theme of visibility and equality for the LGBT+ community in the Czech Republic. The festival offered more than 100 events during the week, including debates, film screenings, workshops and exhibitions. Parade participants carried banners with slogans such as "Love is Love" or "Equality for All".
According to the organizers, the goal of the festival is not only to celebrate diversity, but also to appeal to political leaders to improve the legislative framework for LGBT+ rights. For example, there have been calls for a marriage for all law or better legal protection for trans people. The festival was held this year with the support of the City of Prague, foreign embassies and a number of non-profit organisations. Organizers expect the total attendance to exceed 80,000 people during the week.
gnews.cz - GH
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