Preparing for the Budapest Pride which opens on June 24 and closes, with the Pride March, on July 25, we have brought you a compilation of stories about how our global interviewees reflect on their Pride experiences in their respective countries. In the first part, you will hear about Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Prague, and Zagreb.
Angela:
I have some experience about Pride in multiple cities and countries where I lived. In Mallorca, Spain, and Raleigh, US, Pride is quite small, but of course always fun. People don't make as big of a deal of it though, as in Amsterdam where we've been making plans for Pride week/weekend for MONTHS! And it’s a lot of fun! Even this year it was awesome! There were huge parties in the street all day, after the canal parade, and the whole city was completely packed. Some of my Dutch friends said that it's unique because here, Pride is more for everyone to celebrate, and not just something for gay people. The whole week, everything in the city was decorated with rainbows, even the trams were rainbow colored.
Read more about Angela and her experiences in multiple cities here.
Vanessa:
Pride in LA is like nothing else! It is truly one of the best LGBTQ+ experiences I have ever felt. It is one of the biggest parades in the states and possibly the world! The parade is full of decorated floats, trans, drag queens, gays, lesbians, queers, heterosexuals, everyone is there for LOVE! And it is beautiful. All the bars along the streets of West Hollywood throw pride parties and let's just say you can get quite wasted at the end of the march. Everyone is happy and united like the world should be. If anyone gets the opportunity to attend this pride march, I promise you it will be an event you will never forget.
Read more about Vanessa and California here.
Kamila:
The best thing about the Prague Pride is that in 2018 the Beaver queer femme party was also launched. It features DJs both from abroad and from Prague, offering a wide range of accompanying events such as art exhibits, feminist discussions, workshops, queer pub quiz etc, so it specifically woman-centered.
Read more about Kamila and the Czech Republic here.
Sanda:
Despite all the negativity that is still clearly present, I do see a lot of progress in Croatia. Only 200 people came for the first Zagreb Pride in 2002 and they were attacked by homophobic opponents; whereas today there are 5,000 people walking in the Pride march. This is a huge change for my life. I don’t necessarily mean to say that it’s all better today in every respect: but this is a huge change in the last 15-20 years.
Read more about Sanda and Croatia here.
To be continued in July. Happy Pride Month! See you at qLit events!
