Timing is everything on Senja, Norway’s second largest – but still relatively untouched – island.Pink NewsSep 10by Marcus WrattenCome in winter, and the only light you’ll see is that which reflects off the blankets of snow covering every surface, or the Northern Lights, which are then at their most vibrant. Arrive during the island’s summertime (basically, just July), and you won’t find consistent Mediterranean heat, but you’ll still get beach lounging: Ersforden beach, lined by cloud-scraping mountains, is one the island’s hotspots.Or, come in late August like me, and you might just stumble upon the local Pride march, one of the world’s only Pride events to take place above the Arctic Circle. If you’re used to Pride in London or Brighton Pride, Senja Pride will come as a culture shock. There’s no Mariah Carey performance or gaggle of corporate sponsors, but there is a sweet community spirit, and a heartwarming reminder of why Pride is needed everywhere, but more crucially in small, rural areas.[...]One of the first Pride events above the Arctic Circle, Barents Pride, took place in 2017 in Kirkenes, along the Norwegian-Russian border. The ground-breaking event, which featured Russian LGBTQ+ activists, was in defiance of Russia’s 2013 anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda law which still prohibits promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations”.Norway is typically seen as one of the world’s most LGBTQ-friendly countries but, like in much of Europe, its right-wing parties are increasingly popular, as evidenced by the country’s recent election, and opposition to Pride flags in child-friendly settings is getting louder.
Anyone up for a trip next year to cross-off an item on the Bucket List... attend the farthest north Pride event?
Nope not me. I do not even after all these years cross the street to attend what Pride has become. Yeah, yeah, I know and have heard the rhetoric coming out of the newbie's mouths on why we must attend and express our queer joy, (may that word queer turn to ash in their mouths, while most are acting like homosexuals not the political animal that queer means) When the crap hits the fan they are going to be anything but "gay" and run for the hills. Glitter, fluff, trinkets, lip syncing, mom hugs, jesus loves you be good and you will go to heaven in the little row boat crowd, are not going to stop a fascist. Now they are telling us we must shed tears, and rend our clothing for one of the main architects of the new fascism in the U.S Mr. Charlie. (please remember what the idea of Mr. Charlie was in the civil rights days, he fits it to the T.) So no Pride is no longer on my bucket list. I was going to be given a speaker spot to speak for 5 mins at the rally, then off the stage on to the next drag queen, but no one got a hold of me to confirm. I was going to decline their invitation anyway so they can have no fear of what I was about to say. Ripping a person who is still a homosexual a new hole is my fun and games for their whole live are ineffectual and barriers to true liberation.
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