Bjerre withdraws from Copenhagen Pride citing need for “Pride pause”

Last year, Equality Minister Marie Bjerre painted rainbow flags on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s cheeks during Copenhagen Pride. However, she has decided not to participate in this year’s Pride parade on Saturday, citing the need for a “Pride pause.” Bjerre expressed her desire to distance herself from statements made by Copenhagen Pride regarding the Gaza conflict, which have led several sponsors to withdraw from this year’s event.

“I hope it sends a very clear political message that Pride should focus on LGBT+ issues and nothing else,” she stated. Bjerre criticized the organization’s comments on the Israel-Palestine conflict, describing them as inappropriate and irrelevant to the Pride celebration. Logistically, she also faces challenges returning from a political meeting in the Faroe Islands.

Copenhagen Pride faced backlash after expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, prompting sponsors, including Dansk Industri and Maersk, to withdraw their support. This situation resulted in the resignation of then-chairman Lars Henriksen, and the organization has since apologized for its “poor communication.”

Bjerre noted that while steps have been taken to rectify the situation, simply apologizing for the communication aspect is insufficient. She believes a pause is justified if there are concerns about being associated with the organization’s political views.

Benjamin Hansen, chairman of Copenhagen Pride, acknowledged the need to refocus on their core mission of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, affirming that the recent challenges have strengthened the organization’s resolve moving forward.