“This Pride Business Forum is a needed answer to the reality we face—a society that says it’s open but still has a long way to go, especially outside of Prague,” said the host of the evening Lejla Abassová.

While there has been progress in Czechia, the need for inclusion is clear. According to research made by Queer Geography and the National Institute of Mental Health, about  52% of LGBTQ+ people have faced discrimination. This reality shows that real acceptance takes work, understanding, and safe spaces. 

“Many of us still have to hide in workplaces,” said Czeslaw Walek from the Pride Business Forum. “And in small towns, there isn’t always support. We need businesses and communities to stand by us.”

The power of local activism

Sára Vašičková was the first speaker to share her story. As an LGBTQ+ activist in a rather conservative region of Zlín, she spoke about feeling isolated before finding belonging within Prague’s queer community. Inspired, she decided to bring this sense of pride to her hometown and organized her first Pride event in 2019, which eventually led to the creation of a local support group for LGBTQ+ youth called Q prostor Zlín. 

“Our goal is to create as many celebrations and safe spaces for queer people as we can,” Sára explained. “We hold game nights, workshops, and events in towns across our region. But it’s not always easy—sometimes people tell us they’re afraid to come, or that we’re too far away. But it only drives me to work harder.”

David Tišer from Ara Art shared the unique struggles of Roma LGBTQ+ people, who often face discrimination both inside and outside their communities. “It’s not just one thing—our people can be mistreated for being Roma, and then again for being queer,” David explained. 

His group offers anonymous online counseling for Roma LGBTQ+ people, which he calls essential. “For some of us, this is the only safe, private space we have,” he shared. Despite the challenges, David is seeing more acceptance among younger Roma people.

Eli Nejdlů, who organizes Pilsen Pride, talked about how difficult it was to grow up queer in Pilsen without an LGBTQ+ community. “There were other queer people, but no real feeling of community,” she said. “When we held the first Pilsen Pride, it was amazing to see people from all over Pilsen come together.” Although early events faced protests, Eli shared that Pilsen’s support for LGBTQ+ pride has continued to grow.

Moving forward with hope

Companies like T-Mobile have stepped up as supporters of LGBTQ+ rights. Martin Orgoník from T-Mobile shared that, years ago, diversity wasn’t even a topic in the company, but things have changed since. “Now, we host conferences on diversity and support grassroots projects because we believe inclusion helps everyone,” he said.

Monika Landmanová from the European Commission closed the event by encouraging greater inclusion across Czechia, especially in towns where support can be limited. “Diversity brings benefits not only to businesses but also to society,” she said. She explained that people outside big cities often lack resources, which is why local support is so important.

The evening was a reminder that supporting diversity takes everyone working together. Through partnerships and common goals, Czechia can grow into a place where all people feel safe and welcomed. Support isn’t just a gesture. It’s a commitment to building a society where everyone has the freedom to be who they are.