Rainbow and Barrier-Free: Where Queerness and Life with Disability Intersect?

What could a truly inclusive society look like—one that takes seriously the diversity of bodies, identities, and experiences, and actively removes the barriers that prevent people from living full lives?

Join us for an open debate focused on the often-overlooked intersection of queerness and crip experience—the lived realities of LGBTQ+ people living with physical or mental health disabilities.

We'll explore the phenomenon of double (intersectional) discrimination, where different forms of disadvantage compound and deepen each other. We'll discuss what daily life looks like at this intersection of identities. What barriers do people face in healthcare, social services, and education? Which human rights are violated under double discrimination? And why do institutions often fail to ensure genuine accessibility? We'll also attempt to answer how institutions can better respect the human rights of individuals whose experiences don't fit into one-dimensional categories.

Speaking Rad Bandit – social worker and publicist focusing on care, disability, poverty, and human rights. Long-standing advocate raising awareness of barriers faced by people with disabilities, informal caregivers, and other marginalized groups. In their work, they connect everyday practical experience with systemic criticism of social and health services, addressing the impact of institutional failure on people's dignity and quality of life.

Natálie Ficencová – one of the leading human rights educators at Amnesty International, queer and neurodivergent. Author of the blog Zrzavá holka about autism in women and girls (zrzi.cz), nominated for the Magnesia Litera award, and a major activist for the rights of people with disabilities. Also a caregiver.

Josie Kodet – queer psychologist and psychotherapist in training. In their work, research, and activism, they focus on both queer psychology and neurodiversity and life with chronic illness. For Josie, it's important to connect professional perspective with lived experience. Long-term contributor to educational and awareness activities at Nevypusť duši, worked as a school psychologist and peer consultant at university, currently works at Naděje with families at risk of violence.

Kateřina Kolářová – teaches at the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University and is a researcher at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Long-term focus on studying social imaginaries of difference and attitudes toward "disability," mechanisms of exclusion, feminism, queer and crip utopias. Author of the anthology Jinakost – postižení – kritika: Společenské konstrukce nezpůsobilosti a hendikepu and recipient of the Tobin Siebers Award from Michigan University Press for her manuscript Rehabilitative Postsocialism, given for the best work in disability studies in humanities and social sciences.

Moderated by Magdaléna Dušková – editor at Alarm, studied political theory and cultural anthropology at Charles University. Writes mainly about politics and feminism, also covers the Czech conservative scene. Together with Karolína Ježková, creates the podcast Hysterie.

Admission – free

Accessibility – suitable for children, teenagers, barrier-free, interpreted into Czech sign language

Vibe check – large-capacity event (200+ people, high possibility of physical contact), quiet event (no loud music, shouting, etc.), seating available, indoor venue

Organized by – Amnesty International + Alarm magazine Amnesty International is a voluntary, non-partisan, and independent movement of people fighting injustice and unfreedom, working to uphold human rights worldwide. We are not indifferent to human rights violations and want to take a stand against them. We run campaigns, organize public events and protests, educate, advocate for victims of injustice, and work toward systemic change at state and international levels. Amnesty's work is always grounded in reliable and independent research.

Alarm is a team of independent journalists working long-term toward a vision of a sustainable society founded on values of equality and solidarity. By creating consistent media content without prejudice, we bring a fresh perspective on today's key issues to public debate.