LGBTIQ+ People Face Persecution in Many Countries. Learn Their Stories at Pride
Published: Jul 29, 2025 Reading time: 2 minutes Share: Share an articleAs part of Pride, we bring discussions with activists from around the world and an exhibition of queer artists. LGBTIQ+ people are often denied their basic rights. Their stories deserve to be seen and heard.
Michael is a North African sociologist and researcher focused on human rights and social justice, with a particular emphasis on LGBTIQ+ people in his region. Being queer there often means facing state criminalization, constant discrimination, violence, and psychological harm caused by the denial of one’s identity. Stigmatization from society and rejection by loved ones frequently lead to social isolation, often ending in suicide.
Michael is also the founder of The Open Heart Initiative, which creates an inclusive, safe spiritual space for queer Christians in North Africa.
You can hear his experiences of life under such conditions at two discussions. Michael will speak on Wednesday, July 30 at Edison Filmhub, following a screening of The Blue Caftan, a film that sensitively explores marriage, love, and the quiet acceptance of queer identity in a context where the topic is taboo.
A day later, on Thursday, July 31 at 7:00 PM at Cross Club, Michael will take part in a discussion on the feeling of (un)safety with social geographer Michal Pitoňák and Olena Kushyna, co-founder of the community space Horse Hug Café, as part of the Mezipatra festival.
On Wednesday at 9:00 PM, again in collaboration with Mezipatra, the Cross Club Summer Cinema will host a screening of the documentary Everything Deserves to Live, following Anna Kurkurina, a world champion in powerlifting who has been helping both animals and people in need during the war in Ukraine.
At our Langhans Centre near Wenceslas Square, we are also presenting the exhibition Where Our Home Is / Kde domov náš, which explores how artists of diverse backgrounds grapple with questions of home and identity. The works touch on queer experiences, national belonging, and marginalization, opening up topics related to minority rights that are often kept silent.
On the occasion of Pride, we are also highlighting the brochure Being LGBTIQ+ in Another Country, which provides an overview of the situation of LGBTIQ+ people in 20 countries where People in Need operates, including legal frameworks, social barriers, and stories from local activists.
The publication outlines the wide range of challenges faced by queer people — from the illegality of same-sex relations to the fight for formal recognition of partnerships, with all that entails. It also offers practical guidance for volunteers and professionals working with LGBTIQ+ people in an international context.
Finally, you can of course join us at the traditional Prague Pride Parade, taking place on Saturday, August 2.
