By Olivia Kennard

On a crowded tram heading toward Wenceslas Square, 28-year-old Pavel kept his eyes on the floor as he felt other eyes on him. Moments earlier, Pavel had kissed his partner goodbye before they split off for work. The mood in the tram had shifted dramatically. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted two men taking pictures of him. Pavel got off at the next stop, shaken.

“It’s strange,” he said. “People talk about how Prague is this safe, open city. But sometimes, the smallest moment reminds you that not everyone sees you the same.”

Every August since 2011, Prague transforms into one of Central Europe’s biggest celebrations of LGBTQ+ identity. Rainbow flags line the streets, drag performers and DJs entertain audiences and Czechia’s gay community gathers for Prague Pride. Yet behind the weeklong celebration and unity, there is a more complicated reality.

Prague Pride may paint a picture of acceptance all around, but the celebration exists in a country where progress has slowed. Czechia is often viewed as one of Central Europe’s safest places for LGBTQ+ individuals, yet legal gaps, discrimination and the slowing down of government reform show how incomplete progress is. As activists push for dignity beyond tolerance, the rest of Prague’s queer community continues to spread its visibility- even as LGBTQ+ rights across the region face immense pressure.

The law: progress with important limitations

One of the biggest legal developments for LGBTQ+ people in Czechia has been the recognition of same-sex relationships. Registered partnerships became legal on Jan. 1, 2025, granting couples some legal protection. However, LGBTQ+ people are still excluded from many rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples, particularly regarding parenthood and adoption. There are loopholes, such as co-adoption, which allows the other partner to adopt a child that is already living within the family union. While the adoption would still be possible, these separate legal institutions reinforce the idea that heterosexual relationships are somehow more legitimate than homosexual relationships.

One important protection comes from the Czech Anti-Discrimination Act of 2009, which prohibits discrimination based on race, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. On paper, these protections are significant. However, this does not stop discrimination.

“It’s difficult, you know?” says 19-year-old Czech citizen Lili. “My mom did not speak to me for a long time. If she needed something, she left a note.”

Many queer people continue to hide their identities in public spaces despite legal protections according to the Prague Pride website.

Prague: a welcoming city with an underground history

The city’s nightlife has played a crucial role in defining its queer identity.

“The clubs, they have so many different types of people. And no one cares what you look like, they just like to dance,” said Denisa, a 22-year-old bartender in Czechia.

Some of this growth can be attributed to performers and drag queens within the community, such as Chi Chi Tornado and Chica Checa Pala Santa. This has helped move drag from underground bars into mainstream venues. These performances were once hidden away in basements and late-night clubs, but now they are slowly finding their audiences in theatres, cafes and community festivals.

Prague Pride has helped further along the social progression by providing a platform for performers in the daylight. The festival lasts an entire week during August, so there are many different performers who have the opportunity to spread their name.

As Prague Pride explains, its mission is to create “a respectful and safe environment where LGBTQ+ people can be themselves.” The organization has grown beyond the annual festival. They provide legal advice, community programs, educational resources and advocacy for equal rights throughout the year.

This social work remains necessary because while Czechia can be regarded as a more progressive country in Central Europe, total equality is yet to be achieved.

Prague and regional context

While Czechia is considered to be one of the more welcoming places in Europe, it is through the comparison of the other countries surrounding it. The country exists within a region where LGBTQ+ rights have become increasingly politicized. Hungary has enacted laws that ban the portrayal or promotion of LGBTQ ideals in media and schools, while Poland still has not legalized gay marriage. Czechia has somehow largely avoided these rollbacks, but debate over marriage equality has showed that the progression of gay rights has slowed rather than accelerated.

This trend is not unique to Central Europe. Across the United States, state governments have introduced hundreds of bills targeting transgender healthcare, education and life. The U.S. has seemingly started to move backwards when it comes to LGBTQ rights because right-wing parties are targeting these communities. The Zan Bill was proposed in Italy in 2021, which aimed to expand anti-discrimination laws to include LGBTQ+ people, but it was rejected by the Italian Senate. Germany has witnessed more progress over the years since the self-identification law went into effect late 2024, which allows transgender people to change their name after simply declaring so at a registry. However, hate crimes have sky rocked. Offenses against sexual orientation have increased by 50% since 2022, and offenses against gender identity have increased by 15%.

All of these developments demonstrate that LGBTQ+ rights are backpedaling all over the world. These countries have been forced to shift their focus from progress to protection.

Queerness through art

Even if protection is the current focus, this does not stop LGBTQ individuals from trying to spread their story.

An exhibition by artist Ľuboš Kotlár, Sometimes I Like to Go to Gym with My Hair Loose, explores how everyday acts can challenge societal expectations. The title refers to the act of letting one’s hair touch their body while sweating or working out. It hinders perfect performance, and it becomes a gesture of resistance towards expectations of how the body is supposed to operate. The exhibition rejects the expectation that bodies must constantly improve or conform. Instead, it celebrates vulnerability and the freedom to exist outside of typical expectations.

The queer element of this exhibit can be seen through refusal to conform. Historically, LGBTQ people have had to hide themselves in fear. They have had to conform to societal expectations, and this exhibit represents living in that uncomfortable feeling of standing out.

This theme of refusal to conform stretches back to Prague Pride’s message that acceptance should go beyond tolerance. The organization explains that tolerance is not enough, and that the goal is genuine respect and dignity for LGBTQ+ people.

A city that is changing

Czechia has made meaningful advances when it comes to equality, yet it remains out of reach. Many queer people will continue to face discrimination, unequal rights and social stigma. Activists, artists and performers are continuing to push for change all over the world, but change is gradual. The reality is that acceptance is slowly achieved, but it requires advocacy.

The LGBTQ+ community all over the world faces hardships to this day, such as gaps in family rights, persistent discrimination and backlash against all queer identities. For many, safety and acceptance are still conditional and fragile. Czechia may be closer to inclusion than the other countries that surround it, but the distance left to travel shows that while change is happening, true equality is still far from reality.