Employer confederation, police join Helsinki Pride 2017

Helsinki Pride 2017 saw an unprecedented participation of public services and government agencies on Saturday, and uniformed police appeared for the first time as participants, beyond the security role.

While trade unions have participated for a long time, this year saw for the first time the attendance of the Confederation of Industries, representing the employers. The newly elected Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori joined the event as well.

The widened social outreach of Pride was met with major disappointment in media statements from Christian Democratic Party and populist politicians. Their argument was that the widening political correctness restricts their freedom of speech.

Some ministers of the Center Party and conservative National Coalition Party joined the march. Attendance by the leftist and green opposition was more intense and their party leaders marched.

Helsinki Pride has become an annual event supporting the stance against discrimination toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It usually takes place following the Midsummer Day.

On Saturday, the flow of 35,000 people from the civic square to the southern waterfront park went without incident.

However, the police removed one counterdemonstration and arrested one person. There had been social media messages indicating some action against the march had been planned, police told the media.

This Helsinki Pride was the first since marriage equality took effect in Finland in the past winter.