Helsinki Pride is a gay pride

Gay pride

LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...

 event in Helsinki

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...

, Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

. Previously, the Pride it was held in Helsinki in even years (2004, 2006 etc.) and in odd years (2003, 2005, etc.) in one of the other major cities in Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

. Since 2006, the gay pride has been held in Helsinki every year.

The event takes place during the last week of June. The main event is held in Kaivopuisto

Kaivopuisto

Kaivopuisto , or in spoken language, Kaivari, is one of the oldest and best known parks in central Helsinki, Finland, and also a neighbourhood of about 500 inhabitants where the park is located.-Geography:...

, Helsinki.

History

Helsinki Pride continues the tradition established by Seta's "Freedom Day" in 1975.

The event lasts all week and is usually held the week after "midsummer". On Monday, the program opens, and during the week there are usually sporting events, gathering of young people in the evening, and a rainbow fair. In addition, a number celebrate the role of women. The week culminates in Saturday's Pride parade, which runs through the center of Helsinki. The procession ends in the park where celebrations continue. In the park there is generally a celebratory program of music and speeches. Saturday night also sees entertainment in the city's gay nightclub. In the parade - as for the whole week - the most visible symbol is probably the rainbow flag.

In 2010 the parade was disrupted on the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Kluuvikatu by a tear gas attack, in which several persons, the youngest less than 1-year-old. Police later arrested three men.