The 26th edition of Pride Amsterdam has officially started. For nine days there will be more than three hundred activities in the city to draw extra attention to gay emancipation. This year’s theme is ‘my gender, my pride’.
The Pride was festively opened this afternoon in the open-air theater of the Vondelpark. “There is room for everyone, it is a free country and a free movement. We are for inclusion and for equality. Everyone counts,” said Pride president Frans van den Avert.
Mayor Femke Halsema was also present. “You see how happy people are. This is the week that they can express themselves freely, in which they are together, show solidarity and know that they have support.” According to Halsema, Amsterdam is still a tolerant city, but also a big city. “Where it sometimes chafes and where there is also intolerant, intolerant and sometimes unacceptable behaviour.”
Looking forward to the week
Not only the chairman is looking forward to Pride week, the members of the rainbow community are also looking forward to it. “I’m most excited to see people like who they are. It’s nice to see that everyone here is positive. We should have more of that in the world: acceptance, positivity and tolerance,” says one of those present.
The Pride lasts until Sunday 7 August. Next Saturday is the jubilee edition of the Canal Parade. The boat parade through the canals is then for the 25th time.