Personalities who changed society's view of sexual orientation and gender identity in the Czech Republic and Slovakia - DYKKA.com

In the Czech and Slovak Republics, LGBT+ topics are becoming more and more popular. There is often talk about the openness of the young generation, who are not afraid to admit their gender identity or sexual orientation. But does this mean that queer people did not live in the Czech and Slovak territories in the past? Or that they did not fight for their rights?

The answer is: No! Czech and Slovak activism for LGBTQ+ rights has a long tradition and goes back to times that almost no one remembers today. So who are some of the people who are improving or have improved the lives of queer people in the Czech and Slovak countries?

This year marks an important anniversary, namely 100 years since the first attempt to establish the first homosexual association outside the Czech Republic, which was pursued by František Jelínek together with lawyer František Čeřovský, who did not identify with the LGBTQ+ identity, but nevertheless supported queer people. During the First Republic, the magazines Hlas sexuální menšiny (published by Vojtěch Černý ) and Nový hlas (Voice of the Minority) were also gradually published, whose efforts were aimed at destigmatizing homosexuality.

Imrich Matyáš also contributed to the magazine Hlas seksualní menšiny . He wrote arguments against the stigmatization of homosexuality in society and pointed out the contribution of homosexuals to society. Another person who contributed to the monthly was the writer Jana Mattuschová , who published the novel Město můžou under the pseudonym Eduard Weingart. She dealt not only with the rights of homosexuals, but also with equal pay. However, it was a long road to legislative changes: Section 129, which prohibited sexual intercourse between two persons of the same official sex in Czechoslovakia, was only repealed in 1961.

It was not until after 1989 that LGBTQ+ activism became more vocal, and a year later the Movement for the Equality of Homosexual Citizens was founded, first chaired by actor Jiří Hromada . He also campaigned for the Czech law on registered partnerships, which came into force in 2006.

Another important person is Romana Schlesinger , a journalist, founder of the Queer Leaders Forum and the first organizer of Rainbow Pride in Slovakia. What is impressive is that she organized the first year while still a university student.

We must also not forget the organization Trans*parent, which specifically focuses on transgender, non-binary, and intersex people. It was founded in 2015 and is still led by one of the founders, translator Viktor Heumann , but other activist personalities are also involved, such as YouTuber Lenka Králová and documentary director Kateř Tureček .

The youngest generation of activists can be found fighting not only in the physical world, but also online. Examples include Kryštof Stupka , the delegate for young people at the United Nations, or Dodo , who also works to raise awareness about autism and cyborgism.