LGBT + Community Center Opens in Prague

Prague Pride has opened a new community center for LGBT + people at Železná 18, just a few steps from Old Town Square: the Rainbow House.

The main goal is to create a safe and respectful environment in which “everyone can be themselves, regardless of their orientation and gender identity,” says Hana Třeštíková, Prague City Councillor for culture.

The opening of the new community center took place symbolically on the eve of Human Rights Day, on December 10.

With regard to the current situation, no public events will take place in the community center until the end of the year.

“Since January, however, visitors can look forward to our open days, when it will be possible to visit the community center every Thursday between 3 pm and 9 pm. The main room features a library, PlayStation, board games and a jukebox. You can also just come and talk to friends or other visitors to the community space,” adds the director Tom Bílý.

The Rainbow House, which has a capacity of up to 40 people, will host also lectures, discussions, screenings, support groups.

In June 2019, according to a survey conducted between 4–14 May 2019 by CVVM, 48% of respondents said that homosexuality would not cause difficulties in coexistence with people in the city or community where they live, while 42% disagreed.

Compared to 2008, this represented an increase of 11%. The same survey also found that 39% of Czechs have a gay or lesbian friend or acquaintance, whereas 50% do not have one and 11% “don’t know”. Compared to 2018, this represented a 5% increase.

A Median poll, made public in January 2020, found that 67% of Czechs supported same-sex marriage. It also found that 78% of Czechs agreed that homosexuals and lesbians should be allowed to adopt their spouse’s child, and 62% of Czechs supported full, joint adoption rights for same-sex couples.

The poll showed that inhabitants of Bohemia were more likely to support LGBT rights than inhabitants of Moravia. It also revealed a large generational gap, with younger respondents overwhelmingly in support, but people aged 55 and above being mostly opposed.

A gender gap was found as well, with women being more supportive of same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption than men.