- Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: Prague hosts its first 'gay pride' festival
- Date: 14th August 2011
- Summary: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (AUGUST 13, 2011) (REUTERS) PRAGUE PRIDE MARCHING ACROSS BRIDGE VARIOUS OF TRANSSEXUALS DANCING PINK-HAIRED TRANSSEXUAL POSING PEOPLE DANCING ON BACK OF VEHICLE WOMAN DANCING WITH RAINBOW FLAG RAINBOW COLOURED PARADE PARTICIPANTS POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS WOMEN HUGGING PRAGUE PRIDE MARCH IN THE CITY CENTRE MARCH PARTICIPANTS HOLDING BANNER SA
- Embargoed: 29th August 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Czech Republic, Czech Republic
- Country: Czech Republic
- Topics: Arts,Quirky,Politics,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA1DLE3QRGC3ICY9TYUBQGNGTZJ
- Story Text: More than three thousand homosexuals, lesbians and transsexuals took part in the first gay rights march in the Czech capital Prague on Saturday (August 13).
The event had raised much debate in the Czech media earlier in the week after the country's deputy chancellor Petr Hajek labelled homosexuals "deviants". He had been supported in his views by Czech President Vaclav Klaus.
The comments saw some of the march participants donning masks of Klaus and Hajek as they took to the streets.
Around 300 police guarded the marchers as they made their way through the city, holding back dozens of right-wing protesters who chanted slogans.
While the majority of Czechs are atheists, there was some strong Christian opposition to the event.
But marchers were not discouraged.
"We like it here very much. We are here at the Tolerance March to express that we are also like other people," said one marcher, a lesbian called Jana.
"I think that all the responsible citizens of our country should take part in this march to fight against racism, xenophobia, homophobia and - hurrah," added another participant.
The march was followed by a concert. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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