West Pride has launched a week-long festival to manifest the rights of LGBTI+ individuals in Gothenburg, Sweden
West Pride is pleased and proud to announce that Gothenburg's annual art and cultural festival began on Monday, June 5th. The purpose of the festival is to promote equality and raise awareness about the rights and situation of LGBTI+ individuals. Throughout the week, the public is offered free events such as concerts, seminars, and art exhibitions. Pride Park, the vibrant hub of the festival with its stage program, opens on Thursday, June 8th, at 4:00 PM.
During this year's festival, West Pride is relaunching the campaign "Homophobia Therapy," aimed at highlighting the possibility of overcoming prejudices and transphobia, biphobia, and homophobia. The campaign takes place on social media and outdoors in collaboration with Clear Channel, which increases West Pride's visibility and helps spread the important message against the oppression and hatred of LGBTI+ individuals.
"The idea for the campaign originally came as a reaction to 'conversion therapy,' which many LGBTQI+ individuals have been forced to endure—a practice that should have been banned in Sweden long ago. Now it has become a serious eight-step CBT therapy developed in collaboration with a licensed psychologist and is available completely free of charge," says Tasso Stafilidis, Executive Director of West Pride.
"The hatred and threats directed towards us LGBTQI+ individuals, especially transgender individuals, are something that West Pride wants to shed light on, both here in Sweden and internationally. Over the past two years, the attacks against us have intensified, and I call for united resistance from all our allies in the fight for equal rights and against oppression and hatred," says Tasso Stafilidis.
Pride Parade along Avenyn on June 10th One of the highlights of the festival is the grand parade, taking place on Saturday, June 10th, starting at 1:00 PM and concluding with concerts in Pride Park, Bältespännarparken. The parade is a manifestation and act of solidarity for those who cannot or dare not participate, aiming to show support for all those living under oppression, both in Sweden and around the world.
Stage Program at Pride Park, Bältespännarparken
Thursday, June 8th:
TEEO (composer and performer of West Pride's Pride Song 2023, "I Adore Me")
Dafne Andas
Helena Hedman
Isak Danielsson
Elwin
Faith Kakembo
Cherry Wilder
Osvaldo Supino (Italy)
Sebastian Rydgren (TV4 Idol 2022)
Melanie Wehbe (Swedish Television Melodifestivalen 2022)
DJ MAVI
Friday, June 9th:
Musical Show Night:
Robert Hannouch
Petter Snive
Anna-Karin Håkansson
Emmie Asplund
Alex Falk
Tezzla Flormo
Oscar Pierrou
Marsha Songcome
Kalle Leander ((Swedish Television Melodifestivalen 2021)
Drag and Burlesque Gala:
Admira Thunderpussy (winner of Swedish Television Drag Race Sweden)
Imaa Queen
Knockout Noir (Norway)
Saint Edgar (Iceland)
Cherry Wilder
Kandi von Kane
Liam Teasem
Mizzen n Minxx
Saturday, June 10th:
Christina Kjellsson
TEEO (composer and performer of West Pride's Pride Song 2023, "I Adore Me")
Amsköld
Julien Keulen (TV4 Idol 2022)
Eden (Swedish Television Melodifestivalen 2022)
SNOOW Gretchen
Arantxa Alvarez
TootArd
Tone Sekelius (Swedish Television Melodifestivalen 2022)
Jessica Andersson (Swedish Television Melodifestivalen 2021)
Neverstore
DJ Pamela
About West Pride
West Pride is a non-profit organization with several full-time employees who work year-round on educational initiatives that promote equality and raise awareness about the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals. The festival takes place for one week each year and is an art and cultural festival in Gothenburg that started in 2007. The festival has been held every year since then and has been adapted in various forms even during the pandemic. The festival is open to the public and completely free to attend.
Pride House at the City Library, Biograf Göta, City Theatre, and the Museum of World Culture are open from June 5th to June 11th.
Pride Park in Bältespännarparken is the colorful hub of the festival, opening on Thursday, June 8th, at 4:00 PM and closing at midnight on Saturday, June 10th. A multitude of participants and artists are included in the stage program.
The Pride Parade gathers at Gibraltarvallen on Saturday, June 10th, at 12:00 PM and departs at 1:00 PM via Gibraltargatan, Viktor Rydbergsgatan, and Kungsportsavenyn, concluding in Pride Park.
Press Contact West Pride
Tasso Stafilidis
+46 70 376 04 03
tasso@westpride.se
Press Contact Artists/Show
Marcus Arskog
+46 70 757 57 78
marcus@yearwoodpr.com
Tags:
