A rainbow ribbon will brighten up your outfit in May. Show the world you're all for diversity and the freedom to live life the way you want
Why crossing off one item on the list of diseases was so crucial
IDAHOBIT recalls a key moment in 1990 when the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases. It wasn't just some small adjustment in medical paperwork. It was a major step towards recognizing that being gay, lesbian or queer is not a disorder, but a natural part of human diversity. This historic moment helped weaken stigma, opened the door for equal rights and boosted the self-esteem of LGBT+ people around the world. That's why it's worth revisiting every year on 17 May.
Rainbow ribbon, poppies, flower day
The Prague Pride organisation IDAHOBIT first linked up with the Rainbow Ribbon sale last year. "Our goal is to establish a tradition similar to the wearing of poppies to commemorate war veterans or yellow flowers on Anti-Cancer Day," says Prague Pride's head of communications and marketing Eliška Černá. The Rainbow Ribbon is sold online, at Rainbow Places in 14 cities across the country, and on Saturday, 17 May, volunteer teams will be offering it directly on the streets of Prague - at Wenceslas Square, Namesti Republiky, Náplavka and Namesti Míru.
Proceeds from the sale of the Rainbow Ribbon will be used by the organization to run programs aimed at supporting queer people - for example, the sbarvouven.cz counseling center and support groups, the učímolgbt.cz project, the LGBT+ community center for queer youth, and the We Are Fair initiative, which continues to fight for the introduction of equal marriage in the Czech Republic. "We perceive that the atmosphere in society is changing and our task is to be there for those who will need advocacy," emphasises Eliška Černá.
The Rainbow Ribbon was supported by personalities from across the spectrum
This year's Rainbow Ribbon campaign features actor Josef Trojan, footballer Bára Votíková and trans activist and software engineer Lenka Králová. "We have managed to assemble a sympathetic trio that includes not only queer people, but also young straight allies for whom openness to human diversity is already a natural part of life. And we are delighted that the Rainbow Ribbon 2025 ambassadors include a trans woman - we felt the need to give trans people a space, given the campaign that the US administration or the Hungarian government is currently waging against them," says Eliška Černá.
There are still many reasons to wear the Rainbow Ribbon
"I'm wearing the Rainbow Ribbon because I want to go to my friends' real wedding," says Josef Trojan, who kept his fingers crossed for his friends to finally get married during the House vote on equal marriage, explaining his involvement in the campaign. For Bára Votíková, it was mainly the YouTubers with their coming-out videos who helped her to accept herself and gave her the courage to be herself. That's why she's now taking up the baton, saying in the Rainbow Ribbon video, "I wear the Rainbow Ribbon to show my support for all queer people." That's why she says, "I wear the Rainbow Ribbon because human diversity deserves respect."
Last year, the faces of the Rainbow Ribbon were journalist Linda Bartošová, confectioner Josef Maršálek, presenter Jan Musil and his partner Jakub Gareth Bialý and actor Jan Nedbal.
