Stockholm Pride claims to be the biggest Pride parade in northern Europe. Photo: Yanan Li/Stockholm Visitors Board

But the parades, which started as political demonstrations, are today more known for their party atmosphere than their political message. And in a city like Stockholm, where there is little sense of discrimination against gay people, it can be hard to see the main purpose of Pride.

Claes Nyberg, the chairman of Stockholm Pride, says: “The main purpose of any Pride parade is to articulate both the fight for rights that we still don’t have and to celebrate the freedom that we do have. We don't put a lot of effort into whether it should be political or more of a party. The community itself sets the balance, with the variety of groups and individuals that participate.”

  
Political parade or just a party? Stockholm Pride chairman Claes Nyberg lets the participants set the tone. Press officer Jessica Sandberg points out that being gay may still complicate life — even in Sweden. Photos: Kari Lindh and Pavel Maira

Largest in northern Europe

Stockholm Pride has taken place annually since 1998. It dwarfs Gothenburg’s HBT (homo, bi and transsexual) Festival in the spring and Malmö’s Rainbow Festival in the fall. It is one of the largest Pride parades in Europe, and claims to be the biggest in northern Europe. In 2008, despite heavy rain, 45,000 people took part in the parade while about 450,000 were bystanders. In 2009, Stockholm Pride takes place between July 27 and August 2.

Pride is best known for its parade, which marks the culmination of a week of events, the bulk of which take place at Pride Park, a fenced enclosure filled with food and drink vendors that hosts a series of concerts and presentations. Admission is far from cheap — a week-long pass costs SEK 600 (more than USD 70), which seems at odds with Pride’s message of being open to everyone — but in its defense Pride treasurer, Håkan Steenberg, points out that Stockholm Pride makes no profit and costs SEK 12 million.

Different views on Pride

Many gay Swedes support Pride, but there’s also a sense that to be unsupportive of the event is somehow disloyal. One Stockholmer says: “You know that it is a complete faux pas to say anything negative about Pride if you are a well-behaved Stockholm gay. It’s a bit like saying that Lenin is a crook in the Soviet Union in 1981. Nobody really dares.”

Some gay Stockholmers feel that you're disloyal if you criticize the Pride festival. Here, the parade is passing the Royal Palace in the Old Town. Photo: Yanan Li/Stockholm Visitors Board

There’s no doubt that Pride is an event full of contradictions. For instance, although the gay police and gay military groups in the parade usually get the loudest applause from the spectators, the media invariably focuses on the more flamboyant participants — such as the men and women in too little clothing. One common complaint is that the parade is becoming too extreme in terms of sex and nudity.

Jessica Sandberg, Pride press officer, says: “What is actually extreme? The fear of not getting the job you want unless you cover up the fact that you live with a partner of the same sex?”

Time for change?

Anders Öhrman, editor of Stockholm’s gay newspaper, QX, says it’s simply time for a change. “Pride has to move to another place and do something new.”

Ironically, that Pride can be accused of not having a point is, in fact, a mark of its success. Being gay isn’t a political issue as such in Stockholm. Look at the spectators at the Pride parade and you’ll see old people, young people, parents with toddlers… As gay life in Stockholm becomes even less political, the Pride celebrations are free to be more of a party. Which means more people can enjoy the events — and makes it easier to criticize.

“Some think that Pride is too commercial, too much of a party and too shallow,” Öhrman says. “And some people think exactly the opposite.”

Stephen Whitlock

Stephen Whitlock is a British journalist who moved to Stockholm in 2002 after a decade working in New York City. He has written for magazines including Condé Nast Traveller, Bon Appetit, O, The Oprah Magazine, Wallpaper and Out. He’s also the author of the Hedonist’s Guide to Stockholm.

The author alone is responsible for the opinions expressed in this article.