Helsinki Pride - this year, a big deal

The Helsinki Pride parade is this weekend; to be specific, tomorrow at 13:00 local time. The parade starts at the Senate square. If you're in Helsinki, be there, because this is a big deal.

Homophobia is having a bit of a resurgence here in Finland. Last year, the parade was attacked with tear gas by a tiny bunch of homophobes from somewhere up north, and since then, we've gotten a rabidly anti-gay interior minister and a huge growth in support for a Christian conservative party at the polls. In order to get the Christian democrats on board in the new coalition government, they jettisoned gender-neutral marriage for the next four-year term.

So all in all, we're going through a bit of a backlash against sexual liberation here. In view of that, and especially because of the terrorist attack last year, it's important to show support for the cause. I'll be there.