Record interest from Europe to contribute to the political programme of EuroPride 2014

Friday the 20th of June EuroPride 2014 kicks off with the official opening of Pride House at the House of Literature in Oslo, Norway. Pride House, which is the largest political arena organized by volunteers in Norway, offers free of charge debates, lectures and workshops on lgbtiq issues during EuroPride in Oslo. 

Kathrine Veland, the manager of Pride House, now report of record interest from Europe to contribute to the programme.

“The interest in contributing to the programme is record high. Until now we have received contributions from a total of 16 different countries,” says Veland. “With an international spotlight on Oslo during the EuroPride, it is essential that Pride House offers a wide and diverse programme, and it is of great importance that voices from many parts of Europe are represented.”

Amnesty as Pride partner
Human rights are the overarching theme of the EuroPride 2014 in Oslo. And Amnesty International Norway is the Pride House’s main partner, this year and last.

“Amnesty International is proud to be the main partner of Pride House. We are delighted it has become such an important and well-integrated part of the Oslo Pride, where people can debate and exchange knowledge,” says Patricia Kaatee, policy advisor at Amnesty International Norway.

“For us it is important human rights are on the agenda,” Kaatee continues, “especially in an era where homosexuality is still illegal in 76 countries around the world, and discrimination and prosecution of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people is rising in several places. It is warming to see there is great interest in contributing to and participating in the Pride House, not only by Norwegian organisations, but also from the European community.”

Near doubled interest from Spain, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Sweden and the US
The Information Officer for Oslo Pride and EuroPride 2014, Petter Ruud-Johansen, confirms that the interest in this summer’s event is high. 

“The traffic on the website is nearly 70 percent higher than last year, and there is an even greater interest in our communication on social media. Until now there has been especially high interest about EuroPride in Oslo from Spain, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Sweden and the US,” says Ruud-Johansen.

“At last years Oslo Pride we had 40.000 visitors at Pride Park, 1.400 visitors at Pride House and 12.500 participants in the Pride Parade,” Ruud-Johansen continues. “These are free of charge events. And with the near doubling of interest about our festival this year, we hope to set new attendance records at EuroPride in Oslo this summer”.

EuroPride 2014 in Oslo is a ten-day long Pride event from the 20th to the 29th of June. Pride House takes place from June 20 – 22 at the House of Literature, and from June 23 – 27 at the Museum of Cultural History. The main people hub Pride Park at the City Hall Square of Oslo opens Wednesday the 25th of June and lasts until Saturday 28th of June. The EuroPride Parade takes place on Saturday the 28th of June.