Community history
1970s and 1980s
1990s and 2000s
In the new Millenium the parade was officially named Pride, and the first official Helsinki Pride Week was celebrated in 2000. Since 2006 Pride has been organised every year. In 2008 Helsinki Pride Community, “coming of age”, moved into its own offices in the old industrial area of Suvilahti. By 2010 activities were organised by a group of volunteers and a part time social worker.
2010s
Today Helsinki Pride is the first and foremost cultural and human rights event in Finland, and one of the biggest summer events in Helsinki. Its roots in Liberation Day are still visible, and when it comes to the Pride parade, protesting is just as important as having fun. In keeping with the spirit of Pride, despite the growing numbers of party goers, the evening event remains open and free to all.
The number of the Helsinki Pride parade goers has grown in leaps: in 2017 about 35 000 people took to the streets, a year later the count neared 100 000. Today Pride week consists of events by over a hundred different organisers. Each day of the week Youth Pride, now a whole concept of its own, brings hundreds of young people together in various events. Helsinki Pride is still very much a volunteer production with over a hundred volunteers working in different roles. In addition to staff and volunteers the event is made possible by a large group of supporters, members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community as well as different organisations and companies.
With our year-round cooperation, social and youth work as well as events and training we support and advance the well-being and rights of LGBTQIA+ people – and change the world with Pride!