As July comes to a close, we say goodbye not just to the first month of summer, but also to Bratislava’s festival of Pride – a time dedicated to celebrating autonomy, diversity, sexuality, gender, freedom… and yes, a healthy dose of Chaka Khan.
But beyond the rainbow-clad outfits and pulsating music lies Pride’s core mission: advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Sill Here, Still Proud Máte problém s prehrávaním? Nahláste nám chybu v prehrávači.
Attendee Matej: “The Pride has always been a protest. And even though the good music is playing, there are so many beautiful people dancing, it is still a protest and we are to remind everybody that we are still here, we are not going anywhere, and we have always been here.”
Matej from eastern Slovakia was one of the 14,000 attendees of Pride 2025, who gathered on Námestie Slobody – Freedom square – in Bratislava on Saturday the 19th of July.
The first Duhový Pride Bratislava took place in 2010, at a time when the idea of queer rights was only just taking root in Central Europe. Fifteen years later, queer Slovaks are still marching – not for new rights, but for basic protections they believe they’re entitled to under Slovak and EU law.
Here’s co-organiser Nataša Jurčová Findrová on why Pride remains necessary.
Nataša Jurčová Findrová: “Actually, the situation here for queer families and queer people isn’t ideal. It’s kind of the opposite because right now we’re trying to just stay at the status quo and not change things – not we, but the political power. Right now, in Slovakia we don’t have registered partnerships, we don’t have good protection for queer families and many, many things… Transgender people are still under attack. That’s why we are also here today, to show we are normal people, that we are part of Slovakia, and that we want the same rights as everyone.”
Slovakia is bound by EU and international human rights frameworks – yet queer Slovaks lack legal recognition, face political hostility, and fear for their safety.
In 2020, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance recommended that Slovakia develop a national action plan for LGBTQ+ people, to better understand their situation and protect them from discrimination. That same year, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights reported that 81% of Slovaks believed violence against LGBTQ+ people was increasing – compared to just 59% across the EU-27.
Lenka Vestenícka, a human rights officer at the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights, says several key rights are under threat, including the right to private life, access to healthcare, freedom of expression, and freedom from discrimination.
Lenka Vestenícka: “As we see recently there are various attacks or possible attacks on this community through various organisations and political actors who try to undermine these rights. Also, when it comes to different legislative proposals and political discourse… For example, we have published on the ban for gay people to participate in blood donations. When it comes to the protection of queer couples or queer families, the progress on that is almost non-existent. The discourse is shifting towards more aggressive rhetoric that is attacking and threatening the rights of these people.”
Just last month, Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo – the General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTQ+ persons for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe – called on the Slovak parliament to reject controversial constitutional amendments planned for September. These amendments would ban adoption by same-sex couples, restrict access to inclusive sexual education for children, and make legal gender recognition impossible by defining sex strictly as male or female. At present, Slovak legislation is silent when it comes to terms “gender” or gender identity.”
Here’s Michaela Kacsiová, coordinator of activism at Amnesty International Slovakia, responding to the situation.
Michaela Kacsiová: “Today’s situation is really difficult in Slovakia and queer rights are endangered. We have a human rights petition where we asked that the government of the Slovak Republic in September reject the proposed constitutional amendment that wants to define two genders, which would be a huge problem for queer people. It’s not a question ‘if.’ It’s a human right that needs to be defended – we cannot be silent about that, it’s not a question about morality.”
In Slovakia, the shawdow of the October 2022 terrorist attack on the LGBTQ+ bar “Tepláreň” still lingers. In that hate-motivated shooting, two young members of the community – Juraj Vankulič and Matúš Horváth – were killed.
From that tragedy, to slurs in parliamentary sessions just last year, including attacks on queer MPs, many are now asking: what path is Slovakia really on?
Attendee Monika: “It’s not always normal to have human rights when you’re an LBGTQ+ person. I was scared when I was in the train today because I didn’t know if I was going to get hit or something. Loads of us are really scared to go out even. When you’re from a village it’s not that easy because loads of people are homophobic – even my past classmates were homophobic, so it was really wasn’t that easy. But when I went to Bratislava for high-school, it got a lot easier.”
That was Monika – a Pride attendee – sharing her experience growing up queer in a small Slovak village, far from the relative acceptance of Bratislava.
But alongside the themes of resistance and rights, another thread emerges: visibility.
Martin Macko, director of Iniciatíva Inakosť – the Otherness Initiative – a leading Slovak NGO working on queer rights, and Pride co-organiser Nataša Jurčová Findrová, share more.
Martin Macko: “Visibility of LGBTI people is really important because it can change the attitudes of the society – that the majority of Slovak’s personally know somebody from the community is a major tool to change attitudes in society, so pride is important.”
Nataša Jurčová Findrová: “I think when you talk with queer people you will see that they deal with every normal thing that everybody is doing. They go to work, they go to school, they go be with their friends, they sometimes have some problems with their families… I would say to all of the people that don’t feel connected to us to just come here and to go and talk with some queer person and just see it for yourself.”
Despite the pressure, there are signs of long-term change. The Slovak Centre for Human Rights now offers legal help to victims of discrimination based on sexual orientation, Amnesty International Slovakia has activated a number of petitions. And this year, Slovakia saw the opening of its first-ever LGBTQ+ community centre in Bratislava.
Martin Macko: “We opened a new community centre in February. It was possible only with support from the municipality and donors, and some private companies. Yeah, it’s like a huge step for us because it’s the first time we also have a physical space for activities like support groups, discussions, and also, we provide some services for LBGT people like psychological, social and legal counselling and so on.”
In a country where LGBTQ+ rights remain volatile, this year’s Duhový Pride offered more than just visibility – it offered space. A space for connection, community, and the quiet power of simply being present.
The opening of Slovakia’s first LGBTQ+ community centre in the backdrop of scary proposed constitutional amendments, reflects a growing need and will to support queer people not just once a year, but every day.
As Pride attendee and Latvian drag queen Mara Cash put it:
Attendee Mara Cash: “We have to realise it’s some kind of a bubble. And I live like in this positive bubble and the people around me are my chosen family, my chosen friends who are open about everything. But then we see politicians who are trying to put us down. But you know what, you are not going to put us down. I am going to be here till the day that I die and I’m going to be queer. And the same with my friends, my bubble, and you know… bubbles can also grow bigger and bigger.”
Thank you to everyone who shared their voice at the 15th edition of Duhový Pride Bratislava. As they made clear, Pride is not just a celebration but a demand to be seen, to be safe, and to belong.
Written and recorded by Gigi Green.
