Two praised speeches officially opened Pride House in Kulturhuset in central Stockholm. Opening speakers Gunilla Edemo, one of the forerunners of queer pedagogy in Sweden, and Ali from Arab Initiative cut the traditional red tape. After a flourish of trumpets the grand Pride flag was let down from the roof to adorn the facade of Kulturhuset.
After a snogging manifestation at Sergels Torg, the grand rainbow flag was paraded by members of the board of Stockholm Pride to the roof of Kulturhuset. Many people had gathered on the roof to witness the opening ceremony. The area in front of the stage was quickly crowded by visitors. The joint heads of activities at Pride House, Lovisa Brade and Pär Wiktorsson were the first to enter the roof stage.
- There is a lot of hard work behind Pride House, and there has been a group of 23 long-term voluntary workers dedicated to this project, Pär Wiktorsson said. During the actual festival week we employ around 50 volunteers.
Gunilla Edemo was presented as "The Godmother of Queer Activism". In her opening speech, Edemo stressed that Pride House is indispensable in order to cope during the rest of the year.
- We challenge the heretonorm in different ways 365 days of the year, we need Pride House to acknowledge our work and to encourage us to carry on with our work, everyone is an activist in her own way.
According to Edemo, Pride House is a unique place for laughter, struggle, art, debate, reflection, even rapture. At the moment, Edemo considers herself an "activist-clerk". If she thinks something is wrong, she would not stand back but rather express her opinions, and strive to find a solution to the matter. Edemo pointed out that she finds it interesting to meet other activists, who can provide her with new perspectives on the matters.
- Next time I am here I might be another kind of activist, maybe an unemployed cultural journalist activist.
Edemo thinks that it is a wonderful opening ceremony that has taken place on the roof of Kulturhuset, and that "the heteronorm is subverted".
- Have a fantastic week! Edemo concludes her speech.
After the opening ceremony we manage a short interview with Lovisa Brade, head of activities at Pride House.
- The openinc ceremony went really well, more people turned up than we had expected and we were on schedule, Lovisa says happily.