In the Czech Republic, at least one event in commemoration of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia can be reported on. The event highlighted the achievements and efforts that have been put forward in the last year with an award ceremony.

Like the years before, the bePROUD Awards took place the night before May 17 in commemoration of the IDAHOT. At the ceremony, which took place at the Mecca Club in Prague, awards for the ‘Contribution to More Equal Life of LGBT people’ in Czech society were presented.

The aim of the event was to draw attention to the importance of diversity, and to promote the emancipation and recognition of LGBT people in Czech society. The event was inspired by gala evenings, which have been organized by organizations such as GLAAD (in the US) and Stonewall (in the UK), for many years. During the ceremony, PROUD and the Colour Planet Portal presented awards to projects and personalities that have contributed to LGBT equality.

Award ceremony for IDAHOT 2014 in Prague, Czech Republic

According to radio.cz, amongst the award-winners was “a group of two dozen MPs from across the political spectrum [who] received the 2013 bePROUD prize for supporting minority rights”. They were pushing for adoption rights for lesbian and gay people to adopt their partners’ children.

Since 2014, the ceremony is organized only by PROUD. Since 2012, bePROUD Awards follow the Colour Planet Awards founded by Janis Sidovský in 2008. The past recipients of the awards include veteran activists, such as Jiří Hromada, Ivo Procházka or Marcela Šulcová, the long-time director of the Mezipatra Film Festival, Aleš Rumpel, and ArtForLife and Dům světla (The House of Light) projects. PROUD also presents an award for the achievement of the year that made the LGBT issues more visible or helped the community. Wide nomination takes place online to enable regional or less publicly known, yet good and beneficial activities to take part. PROUD Executive Board then shortlists five nominations, whose representatives are invited the awards ceremony. The winner is chosen from the five shortlisted nominees. The awards are presented in four categories.

Brno

In Brno, activists organised a balloon release, walk through the city centre, and rainbow picnic. Participants gathered at 6pm on Friday May 17, at Malinovského square. They walked then to Moravské square, where they released rainbow balloons. A selection of photos follows (more can be found also from the facebook event page here).

Prague

In Prague, the ‘Queer Noise – 4th Anniversary Party’ was held to coincide with IDAHO; “Electro/NewWave/Pop/House/WaveRock/ColdWave/Dubstep till morning♫” !

For more information see the Queer Noise facebook event and site.

Book Launch of ‘Prince and Prince’

A celebration of the release of the Czech translation of the childrens book ‘Prince and Prince’ (a children’s book about two kings getting married), also marked the Day in Prague. The Embassy of the Netherlands in the Czech Republic supported and organised the event, including for the authors (Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland and Czech translator Adela Elbel) to attend and to organise a collage workshop especially for children. The event was held on Saturday May 18 2013, at 10.30-12.30 in Café Už jste doma, Uralská 6, Praha 6.

For more information see the facebook event page (in Czech)

Reports of Discrimination

May 17 was also a date for a high profile case of alleged discrimination as the new president Milos Zeman rejected to approve Martin C. Putna’s nomination for professor from the Charles University. Putna is openly living as gay and known for his public support for gay rights and for his outspoken posture on various political issues.

A local activist advised, ‘The final nomination of professors proposed by academic field after fulfilling the strict criteria is up to the president, but generally it is very formal act with high respect to academic freedoms. The rejection is probably the first in the long new history.’ A conflicting picture emerged as to whether the rejection was due to Putna’s sexual orientation, his outspoken behavior at a recent pride march, or his political posture generally.

The rejection was widely criticised as an infringement of academic freedom, by the Prime minister, Minister of finance, Green Party, for example. On Thursday, May 23th, students held a manifestation in support of Putna. For more information see: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/czech-president-university-row-over-gay-rights-activist-194443338.html