Text: Laura W. Photo: Julius L.
Chatting, biscuits, live music, politics and non-alcoholic punch. Festivity and serious discussions opened Young Pride at Lava in Kulturhuset on Tuesday.
First to enter the stage was chairperson Claes Nyberg and 1st vice chairperson Anna Fock.
- It's especially fun to open Young Pride because this activity continues all year round, says Anna Fock.
Young Pride is a collaboration between Pride and the City, Lava and Egalia. Egalia arranges activities for young LGBT people all year, not only during the festival week. Prior to the party at Lava, Egalia arranged a pre-party chill-out in their tent in Pride Garden. Everyone who wanted to attend the party could get together and mingle before continuing to Lava.
Nyamko Sabuni's speech on violence
Sweden's Minister for Equality Affairs, Nyamko Sabuni held the evening's second speech. She talked about longing for freedom and that longing is not necessarily the same for everyone.
- My starting point is that freedom from violence is the most important fundamental of human rights.
She focused especially on violence in same-sex relationships. We have been reluctant to talk about the fact that relationship violence strikes homosexuals as well as heterosexuals. We need to recognize victims of violence in same-sex relationships in order for them to recieve the right compensation, protection and support.
She pointed out that during Swedens Presidency of the EU she will push for developing a new European anti-discrimination directive and that discrimination against LGBT people gets more attention in the new directive. When it comes to Sweden fines will be heavier for the penalty of discrimination against LGBT people.
- To discriminate will cost, she says.
On our question to what to do concerning the many young LGBT people who in school were bullied and discriminated, she replied that she has not really got an answer to that today. But we have seen that the health of young LGBT people generally is worse than the heterosexuals of the same age, so we have appointed a report on this.
- How hetero are you, on a scale from one to ten?
- I would have to say nine. You can't be that sure can you, she finishes.
Young Pride's own song
After all that talking it was time for some music and the band Moofish catfish went on the stage with songs from their new album "Yours to share". Dj for the evening was Dj Agge. Just like at Lava the audience were crafting while listening to the music, but this evening had that special festival-feel. To round off Young Pride's own festival song was played.