Thousands gather at Helsinki Pride rally

Several thousands of people including Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Saturday gathered at the Senate Square in Helsinki and expressed their solidarity with the demand for ensuring transgender rights.

Police estimated that about 70 thousands to 80 thousands people joined the rally started at the noon and paraded around different important vantages including Aleksanterinkatu, Mannerheimintie, Eteläesplanadi, Unioninkatu, Eteläinen makasiinikatu, Kasarmikatu, Neitsytpolku and ended at Kaivopuisto peacefully.

The parade, however, impacted vehicular movement on Mannerheimintie, and on the roads from Esplanadi to Kaivopuisto for several hours.

Earlier, the police assured to ensure safety during the parade organised by Pride yhteisö Ry as a part of Pride Week.

The Finnish Government also honoured the rights of sexual and gender minorities by flying the flag on Saturday marking the pinnacle of the Helsinki Pride Week.

People from all-strata including political leaders joined the rally amidst the scorching heat and expressed their solidarity with the demands of the organizers.

Speaking on the occasion Prime Minister Sanna Marin said that the government will enact a new law on transgender rights and expected to place the bill before the parliament in September, reported national broadcaster Yle.

The Premier said that the process to enact the law was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Hopefully we can submit the bill during this summer. It has been carefully prepared and send out for rounds of comments. This is a very important issue to me personally, and it will be given to Parliament as soon as it begins its autumn session," said the Yle report, quoting the Prime Minister as saying.