In Bratislava, thousands of people are marching despite the rollback of LGBT rights in Slovakia

The 16th Bratislava Pride March brought together several thousand participants on Saturday, in a country where Robert Fico's government is gradually tightening its legislation against LGBTQ+ people.

The theme chosen this year in Slovakia was "courage." A word that resonates particularly strongly in Slovakia, where Parliament recently adopted a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and denying any legal recognition to transgender people. This legislation was directly inspired by Hungarian law.

Martin Macko, the event's main organizer, summed up the contradiction running through the country: "While the world is becoming more tolerant, Slovak laws are becoming more restrictive." The march specifically aimed to use the Hungarian example to show that a change of government can reverse this trend.

Participants gathered in Liberty Square, near the government headquarters, before marching through the city center in the afternoon along a route similar to the previous year's. Concerts and speeches extended the event into the evening.

A solemn pause marked the procession in front of the former Tepláreň gay bar, the site of a shooting in October 2022 by a far-right extremist. Two people were killed. Every year since, this tribute has been one of the most moving moments of the march.

Silvia Porubänová, executive director of the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights, spoke to emphasize the need to remain visible: “The courage to be visible, to be yourself and to defend your rights. Most of us feel we are living through a difficult time, as our society becomes increasingly polarized.”

Foreign elected officials also participated in the march. French MEP Mélissa Camara stated that attacks on the rights of women and queer people often precede a broader offensive against democratic institutions.

For security reasons, the exact route had not been announced in advance. A significant police presence was deployed around the event, which proceeded without incident.

Alongside the Pride parade, the conservative march "Hrdí na rodinu" ("Proud of the Family") took place as it does every year. Its participants marched under the slogan "Marriage protects children," waving red balloons bearing the inscription "Mom and Dad forever."