Sámi pride festival to move from Finland to Norway in protest against church

When the Kautokeino parish in Norway banned same-sex marriages in its church, sexual and gender minority Sápmi Pride Festival decided to move it’s festival from Inari, Finland to Kautokeino, Norway.
(Photo courtesy of Karoliina Juhola)
(Photo courtesy of Karoliina Juhola)

The Sámi sexual and gender minority’s Sápmi Pride Festival will be held in Kautokeino, Norway, this year instead of Inari, Finland. The move is to protest against the Kautokeino parish’s refusal to marry same-sex couples in its church.

In the background are alleged comments by Kautokeino parish priest Bjarne Gustad against sexual minorities, in which he reportedly said that homosexuality is an issue that one can get rid of.

Sápmi Pride Festival project director Leammuid Lemet Ánde from Norway told Northern Sámi Ávvir newspaper that these statements by the Kautokeino church leader clearly indicate that it’s difficult to be gay or lesbian in Kautokeino, which is why the festival has been moved there in protest.

This year’s festival

This year Sápmi Pride, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer festival, takes place August 25-28.

The first Sápmi Pride was organized in 2014 in Kiruna, Sweden and the second one, in 2015, was held in Karasjok, Norway.

Sápmi is the Sámi region comprising the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and parts of northwestern Russia.

Related stories from around the North:

Finland:  First Finnish ‘Ski Pride’ in April, Yle News

Sweden:  Arctic hockey team to wear rainbow jerseys all season in support of LGBT rights in sport, Radio Sweden

Yle News

For more news from Finland visit Yle News.

One thought on “Sámi pride festival to move from Finland to Norway in protest against church

  • Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 23:54
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    that is unrespect!!! first they want respect but now does not give respect!!!

    Reply
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