Budapest Pride in 2020: no March but alternative events due to COVID-19

The 25th Budapest Pride, to be held between 14 and 23 August, is finding alternative ways to celebrate the LGBTQ community during the current pandemic.

Communities were all hardly hit by the current pandemic, and LGBTQ groups are no exception. COVID-19 has posed a great challenge for the organisers of Budapest Pride as well, but alternatives are under way to raise awareness of the questions concerning the LGBTQ community.

As Johanna Majercsik, spokesperson of Budapest Pride said in an announcement on the event’s website, the current circumstances obviously do not make it possible to organize a march that usually attracts 20,000 people.

“The main principles of Pride have always been safety and freedom — and now we can only ensure the safety of participants if we find alternative ways to convey our message.”

As Majercsik says, since there will be no March this year, which usually ‘takes the spotlight’ from other events, this year there can be more focus on discussions, community building, and initiating dialogues, which carry the true power of Budapest Pride Festival.

The 25th Budapest Pride, whose slogan is Claim back your future!, will line up 37 events with the contribution of 25 NGOs and other non-formal gatherings. Most of the events will be free to attend, and cover a wide range of activities from bike tours and board game sessions to movie nights and workshops. Participants can join LGBTQ discussions concerning the aspects of health, politics, family affairs, and so on.

Most activities will take place in Budapest but the Festival will also await participants in the cities of Debrecen, Szeged, and Pécs, which is set to become the second location for Pride Hungary. During the Festival, safety measures will be in place in line with pandemic forecasts for mid-August, and ideas and contributions are still welcome to ensure the smooth running of events in these uncertain times. For English information on the Festival, visit the Budapest Pride Facebook page.

Featured image: www.facebook.com/budapestpride

Source: budapestpride.hu