To kick off Helsinki Pride Week, Pride Peace was declared throughout the city. Pride Peace, inspired by the Christmas Peace declaration in Turku, was declared at the pride tram by Mayor Daniel Sazonov and the chair of the board of the Helsinki Pride Community Senni Moilanen. This was the second time Pride Peace was declared in Helsinki.
“Helsinki wants to be a city where everyone can feel themself as part of the group and live a life that is true to themself. We work every day to promote gender equality and equity. Pride Week is a great way to show this,” says mayor Daniel Sazonov.
“Pride Peace comes into effect today. It protects the right of self-determination that applies to every one of us, the equality of all genders, the basic and human rights of everyone, family and sexual rights, children’s rights and the right of being proud of oneself,” states Senni Moilanen, the chair of the board of the Helsinki Pride Community.
Helsinki declares Pride Peace
Mayor Daniel Sazonov and the chair of the board of the Helsinki Pride Community Senni Moilanen declared Pride Peace to Helsinki.
Mayors involved in Pride
All Helsinki mayors wish to show their support to Pride.
“In an equal Helsinki, every child and young person are seen as valuable in their own right. We must invest even more heavily in the well-being of young LGBT+ people,” says the deputy mayor for education, Reetta Vanhanen.
“Helsinki is a city for us all. Here in Helsinki and Finland, we must maintain everyone’s right to be true to themselves,” continues the deputy mayor for urban environment, Johanna Laisaari.
“It is important to ensure that everyone has the right to safe hobbies and activities, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. The City will take this into account when building new premises and, when possible, also when renovating older facilities. When giving support to hobby activities, we require them to commit to ethical principles and non-discrimination,” says Paavo Arhinmäki, the deputy mayor for culture and leisure.
“Health and social services are vital in the everyday life of Helsinki residents. Everyone has the right to be seen as who they are in these services, to be treated with respect and to have the help and support they need,” says the deputy mayor for social services, health care and rescue services, Maarit Vierunen.
Pride across borders as the theme
This year, the Helsinki Pride community especially wishes to highlight the migrants who are part of the LGBT+ family and to celebrate the diversity of their community with the theme ‘Pride knows no borders’. Everyone has the right to freedom, pride and self-determination – regardless of their background, their language or what they have needed to leave behind.
Helsinki is a safe haven to many LGBT+ people moving in from abroad, who may come from places where diversity is not embraced the same way or where finding a community of peers is difficult. As a city, Helsinki is visibly committed to promoting equality. We offer a wide range of services and plenty of opportunities for finding a likeminded community.
Helsinki is proudly promoting LGBT+ rights also internationally as part of the Rainbow Cities network. The City joined this network in 2021, and was granted the honour of hosting the network's annual assembly just last year. The network includes almost 60 cities from more than 20 different countries around the world.
Plenty of LGBTQAI+ activities during Pride Week
Helsinki's cultural centres, libraries, the City Museum and youth services will celebrate equality by putting on a diverse programme of events, including workshops, music performances and story times, during Pride Week on 23–29 June.
Pride Week culminates in the Pride Parade and Pride Park Fest on Saturday 28 June. Management and staff from the City of Helsinki will participate in the parade both on top of a lorry and on foot. A DJ will help people march to the beat.
The Helsinki Pride Community is a non-governmental association and expert organisation whose aim is to eliminate inequalities in culture, language and society's structures, values and standards. The association carries out community, social and youth work throughout the year and organises the Helsinki Pride event annually.
The City of Helsinki is committed to promoting equality, non-discrimination and human rights in all its operations. The City of Helsinki will continue as Helsinki Pride’s main partner. Cooperation with Pride is part of the City's strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination. The City’s objective is to make Helsinki a good and safe city to live and be for all residents regardless of background or personal characteristics.
