The communication between our avatars and the the LGBT community from oppressive states was possible by connecting the dedicated website to the LGBT avatars mobile app. Because of its heavy encryption, the website helped gay people find and interact with their avatars safely and freely. On the other side, their avatars used the app to fulfill their instructions, such as shouting out their messages, taking pictures and live streaming videos seconds after receiving them. Thanks to this interaction, the oppressed LGBT people could have a vocal, authentic presence at the Parade, expressing like any other participant.

Out of the 17000 participants in Prague Pride Parade, over 1000 were avatars marching proudly in the name of as many LGBT people from intolerant countries. Thousands of messages, photos, live streamed videos were exchanged in the day of the Parade and many connections remained active after. Although the campaign was addressed primarily to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, we registered a participation from 22 countries worldwide. The idea echoed in the mainstream media and was applauded by pro LGBT spokesmen and celebrities world wide, but a general audience too, while other gay pride organisations showed their interest in adopting the idea. The discussion about the situation of LGBT rights in intolerant regimes was again in focus as well as the need to take action to support the struggles of LGBT people in these oppressive regimes.

The dire situation of gay and lesbian in Russia is well known. The abuses, deaths and political witch hunts regularly make the headlines, but do we actually do something for the oppressed? In 2014, Prague Pride wanted to give gay people from intolerant countries more than a pat on the back, a chance to experience something they can’t: a Parade that celebrates them. If these events are banned in your country, you can participate in ours, through another human being. So we created LGBT avatars, a form of volunteering in which people participating in Prague Pride Parade became human avatars for gay and lesbians from oppressive regimes. They marched in their name and with using the LGBT Avatars app received instructions to complete and messages to shout. Through this mobile interaction, oppressed gay and lesbians were able to interact with people at the Parade and have a vocal presence there.