This year, LundaPride is expected to beat all previous records. Today, the festival will conquer the heart of the student area from morning till late.
Photo: Press
The project leaders Matilda Nilsson and Albin Junhede, both members of the NGO Proud in Lund, are stressed, and understandably so. Starting today, they will launch their packed, vibrant Pride program. This year, many pieces need to fall into place.
“The whole of Lundagård will be transformed into Pride Park. We will have seminars at Stadsbiblioteket and Domkyrkoforum, build a gigantic flag from second-hand clothes and there will be a LGBTQ Pool Party at Högevalls”, Matilda Nilsson says.
Finishing with club
In addition, this year’s pride parade will start later in the afternoon, followed by the Eurovision Song Contest that will be aired on a big screen from 7pm at Stenkrossen. It all finishes with the club OUT at Mejeriet.
“We will make a day out of it. And by including club OUT, we want to encourage people not to stay home for the evening, but instead ‘come out’ and celebrate with all of Lund”, Albin Junhede says.
Albin Junhede is on his third year studying economics in Lund. He helped arrange last year’s Pride festival. When he met Matilda Nilsson, who moved to Lund last October, he felt that he wanted to do it again this year.
“In my experience, there is an open-minded discussion about LGBTQ issues in Lund, but not much of it is put into practice. It’s difficult to change old student traditions because they support a large part of student life”, Albin Junhede says.
Difficult to get a footing
Both Albin Junhede and Matilda Nilsson have felt that it is difficult for an active LGBTQ community to get a footing in Lund. However, they hope to change this, among other things, through LundaPride.
“We also want to focus on the norms within Pride. The festival has come to revolve around homosexuality, but we want to emphasise that LGBTQ concerns all gender norms that deviate from cis people’s”, Albin Junhede says.
Photo: Press
A theme-based week on the run
Among the many nations in Lund, Kalmar nation has given much attention to LundaPride. Active supervisors at the nation have created a theme-based week that is already on the run. Yesterday, you could order a ‘Pride-burger’ at Pub Kagge, there will be a LGBTQ quiz and the nation will also participate as an organisation in the parade.
“We have many supervisors and members at Kalmar nation who get engaged in LGBTQ issues. We were in the parade last year as well. I think that student life in Lund is actually very accepting of LGBTQ, but that this does not always come across to someone on the outside”, says Märta Skoglund, curator at Kalmar nation.
Two thousand people in the parade
The parade will start at 5pm from Lundagård, and more than 2000 people are expected to attend.
“We won’t have any motor vehicles in our pride parade. Rather, it will be a big people’s movement, marching for acceptance and equality through Lund”, Albin Junhede says.
Text: Hedvig Wrede
Translation: Sofia Nordstrand
