Right now someone queer is experiencing hate. Prague Pride launches campaign calling for safety and empathy
Hate is not a thing of the past, but a daily reality. Prague Pride is launching a new fundraising campaign with the telling title "Right now someone queer is experiencing hate. The goal is to draw attention to the worsening situation of LGBTQ+ people in the Czech Republic and raise funds for programs that help them cope with the effects of hate - online and in the real world.
"We anticipated that with the end of the heated election campaign, the attacks against LGBTQ+ people would die down. We were very wrong," says Oldřich Kundera, chair of Prague Pride. In his view, hate speech has increased after the elections - not only on social media, but also in public space.
This development is not unique. Research confirms that the aggressive rhetoric of politicians and influencers has concrete consequences: queer people face more frequent attacks, their mental health deteriorates, and so-called minority stress increases. Hate is becoming a common part of public discourse, pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable and normalising contempt.
Three pillars of help: counselling, community centre and education
The campaign aims to raise CZK 1.4 million, which will cover the operation of Prague Pride's three main programmes:
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Online counselling service sbarvouven.cz - for 11 years it has been helping mainly young queer people who are struggling with coming out or rejection from their surroundings. It functions as an anonymous chat room with mentors*, and now also offers support groups in five cities and meetings for parents of LGBTQ+ children.
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LGBT+ Community Centre in Prague - Established in 2022, it provides a safe haven for queer teens facing pressure at school, on the streets and at home.
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Učímolgbt.cz - an educational project for educators that promotes a more open approach to queer issues in schools. The website and e-learning were developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Education of the UK and foster empathy and a safe classroom climate.
Faces of the campaign: real people, real stories
The campaign features testimonies of LGBTQ+ people who have come face to face with hate. They share their stories under their own names and without covering up - because visibility can be the first step towards change.
Seventeen-year-old trans woman Dominika Podhorova faced repeated physical attacks in a small town where no bystander dared to intervene.
Edwys, a twenty-two-year-old queer creator on social media, speaks of death threats and physical assaults that prompted him to contact the police.
And the couple , Carmen and Lucie, who are expecting a baby in Prague, experienced a wave of hate so strong after the news of their pregnancy was made public that some people wished her dead.
"The target of verbal or physical violence is often unexpected for a queer person. You don't know in advance that the blow will come. It makes it all the more difficult to cope with such an experience," Kundera says.
Hate grows - and often goes unpunished
According to recent research on cyberbullying , one in every young LGBTQ+ person has experienced online hate in the last year, with 76% of them having been directly assaulted. LGBTQ+ people are now - after Ukrainians - the second most frequently attacked group on the Czech internet.
Yet 92% of queer people have never reported an attack. Fear, distrust in institutions and trivialising hate lead to silent suffering.
In schools, the situation is no better: according to a 2022 survey by the UK Faculty of Education, 82% of teachers see bullying of LGBTQ+ pupils and 40% hear insults or taunts.
The gift as an act of solidarity
Campaign Right now someone queer is experiencing hate. Give him the Gift of Safety is running on the Darujme.cz platform. Prague Pride uses the money raised to fund safe spaces, psychological support and educational activities that can change the atmosphere in schools, communities and the online world. Because as Kundera reminds us, "No queer person should face hate alone."
