‘Freedom’ theme for Copenhagen Pride highlights injustice at home and abroad 

Photographer: Elina Kamby

Oslo Pride will lead the Parade in commemoration of the terror attack in June 

Final preparations are underway for Copenhagen Pride which begins in one week, with the theme of ‘freedom’ to highlight the ways in which LGBTI+ people face discrimination in Denmark and abroad. 

And in a tribute to those who lost their lives and were injured in the shooting outside the London Pub in Oslo, a delegation from Oslo Pride will lead the Parade on 20 August. Also leading the Parade will be LGBT Asylum to mark their tenth anniversary, and a Ukrainian LGBTI+ delegation will note the current human rights atrocities being inflicted by Russia. 

More than 130 events make up the program including human rights debates, live music performances, drag bingo, special programs for young people and for children and families, film screenings and workshops. At Nytorv, a Pride Art exhibition will be created as ‘a space for queer expression’ showcasing artists both established and up-and-coming. 

Political forperson for Copenhagen Pride, Lars Henriksen, said:  

“Hosting WorldPride last year allowed us to show our ambition and our vision for Copenhagen Pride where we focus unapologetically and relentlessly on challenging injustice against LGBTI+ people whether they are here in Denmark, or on the other side of the world. This year’s program is one of our biggest and most exciting yet, and I pay tribute to our volunteers who plan and deliver Denmark’s biggest human rights event.”

Some of the LGBTI+ human rights issues highlighted by Copenhagen Pride will include: 

• No country in Scandinavia having yet banned ‘conversion therapy’ that aims to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity, a process declared torture  
• Qatar – host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup – and 11 other countries have the death penalty as punishment for male homosexuality 

• In Turkey, illegal bans on Pride are supported by government and police, and in countries including Poland, Hungary and Romania LGBTI+ rights are being rolled back 
• ‘Gender critical’ anti-trans groups are being funded by far-right groups from Russia and the USA causing significant harm to trans and non-binary people 

These issues and many more will be the focus of the Copenhagen Pride Parade on Saturday 20 August when 30,000 people will march from Frederiksberg Rådhuset to Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen, with as many as 250,000 people lining the route through Vesterbro. 

Copenhagen’s Rådhuspladsen will be transformed into ‘Pride Square’, with two performance areas for the first six days, before a stage is erected in front of Rådhus for the Drag Night concert on Friday 19 August and the Pride Show on Saturday 20 August headlined by American rap artist Cakes da Killa.  

Food vendors from Mad og Marked and the Pride bars will serve refreshments while community groups including LGBT+ Danmark, Sabaah and Pan Idræt will meet visitors in a new ‘community space’.  

Main partners for Copenhagen Pride this year are 7-Eleven, Flügger, Netto, Nordic Choice Hotels and Somersby. Two partners, Flügger and MATE, will join in with the launch day next Saturday with a ‘colour splash’ performance in Pride Square after the opening speeches. Almost 60 businesses and organisations are supporting Pride this year. 

Organisational forperson for Copenhagen Pride, Benjamin Hansen, said: 

“Support from our partners helps to ensure Copenhagen Pride remains the largest free Pride in Scandinavia but, more importantly, it helps to further the cause for LGBTI+ equality by ensuring our message is visible in businesses and workplaces across Denmark. We are very proud of all our partners and thank them for their amazing support.”  

Copenhagen Pride have been working closely with Copenhagen Police and agencies to ensure the safety of the event, amid heightened concern following the attack in Oslo. All appropriate safety measures will be in place to make the event as safe as possible for attendees. Public health messages on monkeypox will also be shared with attendees, following the advice of Statens Serum Institut and AIDS Fondet.  

The full program can be found in the Copenhagen Pride app and on the website.