Tens of thousands of people gathered for the Helsinki Pride march on Saturday, June 29. The procession began at Senate Square and proceeded to Kaivopuisto Park for the official party. The Helsinki Pride march is organized by Seta, the main organization representing LGBTI people in Finland. The event aims to support the rights and equality of individuals belonging to sexual and gender minorities. Traffic arrangements in central Helsinki were affected by the parade, with traffic closed along the parade route from Senate Square to Kaivopuisto between noon and 4pm. Last year, 52 Pride events were organized in Finland, with more than half of the organizers reporting acts of hate and political opposition to the events [3b6164fb].
In Houston, the LGBT+ Pride Festival took place on the same day, organized by Pride Houston 365. The festival celebrated LGBTQ+ activism in the United States and around the world. The parade route extended from Bagby Street and Lamar Street to Smith Street and Walker Street, then from Walker to Milam Street and Milam to Pease Street [004abdef].
In Oslo, Norway, the annual pride parade took place on Saturday, June 29. The two-hour march ended at Pride Park in the central Sofienbergparken. Oslo Pride is Norway's largest celebration of love and diversity, focusing on equal rights and human dignity. According to the Brussels-based NGO ILGA-Europe, Norway ranks as the 8th best state in Europe for the LGBTQ+ community. However, during last year's festival, a homophobic gunman opened fire in Oslo's nightlife district, killing two people and wounding 20 others [0c228ec6].
In Thessaloniki, Greece, around 15,000 people attended the annual EuroPride parade, showing support for the LGBTQ+ community. There was a heavy police presence to prevent demonstrations against the parade, and 15 people were detained for shouting obscenities and attempting to throw eggs at parade participants [0c228ec6].
In Istanbul, Turkey, a group of LGBTQ+ protesters held an impromptu demonstration on Sunday after the governor's office banned an annual Pride March. The annual Pride March has been banned in Istanbul since 2015, but demonstrators still gather in Taksim and Istiklal every year and clash with authorities. To circumvent the ban, a group of more than 100 people gathered in the Suadiye neighborhood across town. The demonstrators waved rainbow flags and read a statement, before quickly dispersing when police arrived. Turkey previously was one of the few Muslim-majority countries to allow Pride marches. The first was held in 2003, the year after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party came to power. The Istanbul Pride Committee said that there were 'unconfirmed' reports of at least 15 protesters being detained [9ee13bf0].
In Toronto, Canada, thousands of people gathered in downtown Toronto for the annual Pride Parade on July 1. The parade marked the culmination of a month's worth of events celebrating the city's LGBTQ+ community. More than 250 groups marched together along Yonge Street, including LGBTQ+ organizations and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. Despite a brief disruption caused by a demonstration, the parade continued with participants dancing and smiling in colorful outfits. The theme of this year's parade was 'Be,' symbolizing the enduring presence of the LGBTQ+ community. Attendees expressed feelings of love, inclusivity, and support for one another [0491d7e6].