Yesterday I walked the Stockholm Pride Parade together with TEDx Stockholm. I got my invitation from my friend Mirre who by the way is one of the strongest and most positive people I know. This was my first parade of this kind and I was overwhelmed by the positive atmosphere. The parade was MASSIVE - 450 000 people had come to watch the 45 000 participants! In the beginning I was watching from the crowd for two hours straight, and then when I joined them it took us another two hours to get to Stureplan. So, four hours of music, dance and people fighting for their right to love.
Among the groups were LGBT families, Parents of LGBT children, the Gay Police Organisation, LGBT in the Defence Force, Hard Rock Against Racism, The Polyamorous, as well as Rose Alliance - activists for legalising sex work in Sweden. It was great to see the prime minister there, as well as Svenska kyrkan (the Church), Kristdemokraterna and representative equipages of different countries with issues in that sphere such as Turkey, Syria, Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Iran. The full list you can find here. I could have done without Clarion, Circle K, King and other brands, instead I'd love to have seen Islamiska förbundet or Sveriges unga muslimer - now that would have been something!
It's hard not to make a comparison with my home country in which the attitudes have been changing for the better, but still has a long way to go. At the day of the parade there is usually another demonstration - the so-called "anti-pride" where people gather to protest against it. According to the stories I've heard from another friend of mine - Laila, there is a ton of policemen, all happens very quick and looks more like a marathon than a parade. Here I only saw a couple police officers as well as a helicopter.
Watch a compilation of the short videos that I took HERE.
The crew had gone all-in
Skansen at the Pride
The Swedish Prime minister Stefan Löfven
