We will explore how queer people lived their lives and fought for their rights throughout Prague’s history, but mainly from the 19th century to the present day.
Since the modern queer identities began to crystallize in the 19th century, our fight for dignity has had many ups and downs. We will meet at the Wenceslas Square, the modern city center of Prague, where the independence of Czechoslovakia was proclaimed and where Prague Pride parade begins every year.
We will explore the hopeful years of the interwar era in the Lucerna passage, which used to host the most audacious parties of the queer Lucerna Boys. We will talk about the successes of famous 1920s queer people in Czechoslovakia like Toyen, Zdeněk Koubek or Dora Richter and attempts to reform the criminal code under the new republic.
After touching on the colossal tragedy that was the Second World War, we will talk about how the secret police and communist rule transformed the lives of queer people and how some progress was gradually achieved. While the Czechoslovak goverment tried to emulate the USSR early in the Cold war with barbaric attempts on „treating“ queer people, it later became of the most liberal in the Eastern bloc.
Then at Národní Třída, we will talk about the Velvet Revolution and how it allowed queer people to finally openly advocate for our rights again, and we will continue to the Archer’s island, where Pride Village springs up every August to learn about the recent wins and losses of the queer rights movement.
Tour length: 90 minutes
Price: Pay what you want at the end!
Total lenght walked: 3km
Meeting point
We are going to meet right in the middle of Wenceslas square, besides the tram track in front of the Sephora store. Look for a guide with a small rainbow flag or a bag.