Copenhagen Pride Week
Various Locations; starts Friday, ends 2 August; www.copenhagenpride.dk
Denmark has always maintained a historical reputation for sexual liberation, tolerance and progressive social policies in regards to lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer (LGBTQ) issues. In 1930, Danish painter Andreas Wegener became the world’s first transexual. Her memoir, Man into Woman, (written under the name Lili Elbe) has become a transexual bible. From 1951-1953, George Jorgensen underwent a series of operations in Copenhagen to become Christine Jorgenson, whose international celebrity was used to educate people about transexuality. In 1987, the Danish Parliament adopted a statute forbidding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and two years later Denmark became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex unions. Recently, parliament has decided to once again take up the torch and begin working on legislation that would give civil partnerships and married couples equal adoption rights.
With these facts in mind, it is no wonder why the city of Copenhagen has served as one of the world capitals for the LGBTQ community for over a century. Copenhagen Pride Week is a celebration of conviction that gay rights are human rights. Furthermore, the festival represents a visual stance of societal solidarity against homophobia and homophobic-related hate crimes. Popular institutions such as City Hall Square are transformed over the course of the week to serve as reminders that the city of Copenhagen is an open-minded destination for people of all sexual orientation.This year, the festival week is loaded with colourful, innovative and unconventional events sure to amuse the most sardonic of spectators. The programme is extensive, with several options to choose from. Here is a rundown of a few top picks and recommendations that will be happening throughout the week.
Top Picks:
World Outgames
Various locations, Saturday-2 August; 2,200 kroner (participants), Free entry (spectators)
An international a sporting, human rights and cultural event with over 5,000 participants and keynote speakers such as founder of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Cleve Jones and Denmark’s own Axel Axgil, founder of the Danish Association for Gays and Lesbians and the first man in the world to enter a registered partnership for same-sex couples. For more details see article on page G3.
Pride Show
Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square), 1550 Cph V; 1 August 12.00 (bar opens), 16.00 (show begins); Free entry
Popular stand-up comedian Audrey Castañeda and television personality Dan Rachlin invite all of Copenhagen - and the rest of the world - to ‘Celebrate the Right to Love’. Crowd pleasers such as R&B sensation ‘Medina’ and club darlings ‘Fagget Fairys’ will entertain the crowd with a show designed to make you sing along and dance from beginning to end.
Copenhagen Pride Parade
Frederiksberg Rådhus, Smallegade 1, 2000 Frederiksberg; 1 August 13.00; Free entry
Thousands of happy people will march through the Copenhagen precincts of Frederiksberg and Nørrebro before the parade culminates at City Hall Square.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
Urban Treasure Hunt
Rumkammerat, Julius Thomsens Gade 14b, 1632 Cph V; ongoing, ends 2 August; 3583 5825
A great way to discover the streets of Copenhagen on a creative and challenging hunt for artworks and clues. Everybody is welcome to join the event any time of day. All clues will be posted in English so tourists have a shot at finding the treasure, which is accessible between noon and 17.00 every day. The whole trip takes about two or three hours - depending on how quickly you can interpret the clues. For daily clue info call Rumkammerat.
OpenAir Film
Ørstedsparken, Nørre Farimagsgade 6, 1358 Cph K; Friday 18.00 (bar opens), 22.00 (show begins); Free entry
Copenhagen Pride 2009 starts softly when movie lovers meet to enjoy the free open air screening of the Norwegian hit movie The Man Who Loved Yngve - voted ‘Film of the Year’ in Norway in 2008. The film will have English subtitles, and while beverages can either be brought or purchased on site, food cannot, so bring a picnic basket.
Lost and Found: Queerying the Archive
Nikolaj Copenhagen Contemporary Art Center, Nikolaj Plads 10, 1067 Cph K; Friday-2 August 12.00-17.00 (Tues-Sun), 12.00-21.00 (Thurs), Closed Mon; 20 kroner (adults), 10 kroner (pensioners), Free entry (children under 15 years), Free entry on Wed
An international exhibition of 13 contemporary artists focusing on memory and the writing of history in relationship to gender and sexuality.
Copenhagen Pride Square
Frederiksholms Kanal, Frederiksholms Kanal 1, 1220 Cph K; Saturday-31 July; Free entry
A market place along a beautiful canal stretch where up to 80 tents and stalls will be set up selling an assortment of goods. There will also be lots of free live entertainment like DJs, concerts, debates, and sports competitions.
BBQ at the Beach
Amager Strand (Beach), 2300 Cph S; Sunday 17.00-21.00; Free entry
Come join the party on the beach as SLM Copenhagen hosts a BBQ for all leather lovers and their friends. Lots of grilled meat and all the draught beer you can drink!
Fairy Ferry
Halvandet, Refshalevej 325, 1432 Cph K; Wednesday 20.00-05.00; 50 kroner/45 kroner for Outgames participants
All sails are set for a night of drinks and barbecued food under a beautiful Scandinavian sky. After the boat cruise, move inside the old industrial halls for an inferno of sights and sounds from popular DJs Kjeld Tolstrup and Thomas Madvig.
Mirage (Official Pride Party)
Kulturstaldene, Onkel Dannys Plads 1-9, 1711 Cph V; 1 August 21.00-late; 75 kroner
A celebration of sexual, cultural and ethnic diversity in a unique oriental atmosphere with ethnic rhythms, marvellous DJs, Middle Eastern dance shows, and much more.
