Donald Trump in 2011. | Photo: Gage Skidmore / Flickr
Demark LGBTI groups will snub the annual reception organized by the US ambassador ahead of Copenhagen Pride.
The reception at the residence in Charlottenlund used to be one of the most eagerly-anticipated events. Formerly hosted by ambassador Rufus Gifford, it is now among the diplomatic duties of new ambassador Carla Sands.
Sands, appointed by US President Donald Trump in 2017, has now officially sent out an invitation to a Pride reception on 15 August, a few days before the parade on 18 August.
However, a number of the bodies associated with Pride Week are unhappy, including Copenhagen Pride.
Copenhagen Pride takes a stance against Trump’s LGBTI policies
The organization’s press officer Thomas Rasmussen did not mince his words.
‘I’m not surprised there are organizations who are considering whether to take part,’ he told Out and About.
‘It can easily sound pretty hollow if on the one side you criticise Trump’s administration for their reluctance to accommodate LGBT people and the rolling back of LGBT-positive legislation, and at the same time stand around drinking champagne with the ambassador who represents that administration,’ he said.
The US ambassador will take part in the parade
Rasmussen confirmed that Copenhagen Pride will not be taking part, but said other organizations would have to make their own decision.
LGBT Denmark has also decided to follow Copenhagen Pride’s lead and boycott the arrangement.
‘We don’t want to rubber-stamp the Trump administration’s backward-looking rolling back of LBGT rights by our presence,” said their spokesperson Peder Holk Svendsen.
Like her predecessor, Sands has signed up to take part in the big Copenhagen Pride parade this year. Nonetheless, it is not clear in what capacity she will take part in the march.
Copenhagen will host World Pride in 2021
The annual parade will take place on 18 August at 1pm, followed by the show in Copenhagen City Hall Square.
The most famous Danish Pride started in 1996 when the capital hosted EuroPride.
Copenhagen Pride will host WorldPride in 2021 and LGBTI sports club Pan Idræt is bidding to host EuroGames the same year. This mega LGBTI event is called Copenhagen 2021.
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You can now put homophobia in the bin ahead of this year’s Reykjavik Pride
