This year’s theme of the Prague Pride festival is family. The topic draws attention to the legislative issues surrounding same-sex couples and indirectly raises the question in the public space of what actually makes a family a family. Although a new partnership institute will be introduced for same-sex couples from January, giving them most of the same rights as married couples, restrictions will continue to apply to the adoption of children. This is not the only reason Vodafone supports marriage for all.
Vodafone is also this year’s general partner at the head of the Prague Pride festival, which will last from August 5 to 11 and cover more than 200 thematic events at various locations. Vodafone has been supporting the festival since 2018. The operator has long been a leader in the field of diversity and inclusion not only thanks to friendly employee benefits, but also for its open approach to all customers. This is also proven by the award for the best LGBTQ+ employer, which Vodafone won for the ninth time this year.
From January, a new partnership institute will be introduced in the Czech Republic for same-sex couples, however, for example, the adoption of a child by a partner takes some time and the non-biological parent is not entitled to paternity leave at that time. “For Vodafone, this means that we will continue to provide the equivalent of so-called paternity leave to our employees from rainbow families from our own funds. We measure everyone with the same yardstick,” says Jana Vychroňová, manager of diversity and inclusion at Vodafone.
The operator’s pro-family employee benefits include, for example, 16 additional weeks of paid leave for the other parent in the event of the birth or adoption of a child. Or also a phased return after parental leave, when a person works part-time for six months, but receives a full salary. This year, the company also introduced a similar benefit for those who are retiring – it offers them the so-called phased retirement.
Pride Village on Strelecky Island
As for the accompanying program of the festival, this year’s edition includes more than 200 thematic events, concerts and performances at various locations. Vodafone is preparing for everyone who is going to Strělecký ostrov, a relaxation zone including an iconic photo point with a view of Prague and rainbow deckchairs to sit on.
Rainbow parade
The festival days culminate with a rainbow parade on Saturday, August 10. The procession leaves at noon from Wenceslas Square towards Letenská plain. The people from Vodafone, who will traditionally carry the rainbow flag, will also be joined by the popular orchestra Tam Tam Batucada, which will then take the stage around 2:00 p.m. and perform a Brazilian drum show.
Vodafone will have a shaded relaxation zone set up in Leten’s Pride Park. Small joys in the form of corporate advertising items await the fastest ones. The body marbling tent, which was a huge success last year, is also ready for those interested. In it, people can have a colorful marble pattern printed directly on their body. Last but not least, Vodafone will also light up a charity QR code in Pride Park for those who would like to donate to the Jsme fér initiative, which strives for full equality for LGBTQ+ people, couples and families with children in the Czech Republic.
Rainbow TV hits
The Vodafone TV Video library is not left behind, it also includes a varied Extra section, which, in addition to Filmbox films and Disney Channel series, also includes the Queer category, in which current and classic films with LGBTQ+ themes can be viewed all year round. From August 1, they will be joined by a mysterious French film Five devils and the popular Israeli drama film will also return to the menu A decent citizen.
As part of the new TV offer, the Vodafone Video Library with more than 2,000 titles is available to everyone with the basic Vodafone TV+ offer. Subscribers with older Vodafone TV tariffs have a Video library as part of the Komfort and Komplet TV tariffs.
