Ljubljana Pride Parade concludes with calls for democracy and inclusion

Ljubljana's Pride Parade festival culminated with a vibrant street procession and a concluding program at Congress Square. The event, a significant gathering for the LGBTIQ+ community and its allies, celebrated diversity and advocated for equality.

President Nataša Pirc Musar addressed the assembled crowd via a video message, underscoring the festival's core themes. She stated that the Pride Parade is more than just an event; it is a space for an inclusive community and a bold message that democracy requires protecting the dignity of every individual, not just serving the majority. Pirc Musar emphasized that the parade serves as a test of a society's democratic maturity, particularly in places where people are denied visibility, equality, and opportunities.

The festival proceeded under the slogan "Democracy in our hands - hope is our resistance." Organizers from the Parada ponosa association stressed that democracy is not a given and must be actively protected by authorities, institutions, and society. They highlighted that this year's parade was not only a celebration but also a political statement about the importance of democracy, human rights, civil society, solidarity, and resistance against exclusion.

In an era where the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals, especially transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people, face increasing political attacks, hate speech, and societal polarization, the public visibility of the community is deemed more critical than ever. The event featured political and activist speeches, artistic performances, music, drag shows, queer culture, and community celebration, alongside stalls from LGBTIQ+ and allied organizations in Zvezda Park.

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Letošnja Parada ponosa ni le praznovanje skupnosti, ampak tudi jasno politično sporočilo o pomenu demokracije, človekovih pravic, civilne družbe, solidarnosti in odpora proti izključevanju. V času, ko so pravice LGBTIQ+ oseb, še posebej trans, nebinarnih in spolno nenormativnih oseb, vse pogosteje tarča političnih napadov, sovražnega govora in družbene polarizacije, je javna vidnost skupnosti pomembnejša kot kadar koli