STUD

STUD is one of the most active organisations of its kind in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1996 as an association of university students with homosexual and bisexual orientation, and named STUD Brno and STUD-lgb. It was one of the members of SOHO from its beginnings until its demise in 2000. In 2004, STUD was also a founding member of the former Gay and Lesbian League, which significantly contributed to the legalisation of registered partnerships and ending discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ minority. In 2000, STUD also founded the film festival Rainbow above Brno, which gradually grew into the current festival Mezipatra. In 1998 and 2000, it organised the nation-wide finale of the contest Gay Man CZ.

Since its beginnings, STUD has focused on supporting young people in the LGBTQIA+ community, helping them deal with their own sexual orientation, preventing suicides and drug abuse by young people.

STUD also works on other projects, or participates as a collaborator. They include the association GaTe, founded in 2003. Its name comes from the English word “gate”, but it also signifies the phrase Gay Teens. It supports young gay people in their coming-out and organises for them regular meetings and social events. STUD also organises Queer Ball, an untraditional and informal ball for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their friends. Another project is Studivadlo, an amateur theatre. Other diverse activities are organised by the project QueerLab. STUD has also set up a library, which contains more than 500 titles, Czech and foreign periodicals, novels and scientific publications dedicated to the queer topic. The association is also creating an LBGT map of Brno, marking places open to everybody, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.