07-08-2012 | A more open and accepting society
When it comes to public support for homosexual rights, it looks like the approval rate among ordinary citizens in the Faroe Islands is at a record high. More than a tenth of the population gathered to support the Faroe Pride march, which took place on the Friday before last in the small and colourful capital.
As many as 5,000 people participated in the Faroe Pride march in Tórshavn on Friday 27 July 2012. The march was arranged by the Faroese organisation for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, LGBT Føroyar, in order to promote equal rights for the LGBT community in the Faroe Islands.
'The march is a clear sign that Faroese people want a more diverse and tolerant society', said Eiler Fagraklett, a member of the committee in LGBT Føroyar. 'We set out to get 1,000 people to participate in the event, but we ended up attracting five times as many. This is testimony that we are not alone in the struggle to achieve a more open society in which everyone is equal regardless of sexual orientation'.
The weather was friendly to the march, and the sun was shining as it took off from Gundadalur in the northern part of the centre of Tórshavn. As the march went through the town, rows of people cheered and joined the march.
'Relative to the number of people in the Faroe Islands, today's pride must have been one of the biggest in the world, and this is a record that we should be proud of', said Annlis Bjarkhamar, one of the organisers of Faroe Pride 2012.
The Mayor of Tórshavn, Heðin Mortensen, gave the inaugural address at the event. This was followed by an address by the Mayor of Reykjavík, Jón Gnarr, who was visiting the Faroe Islands at the time and wished to give a speech at the event. Before he became Mayor of the Icelandic capital, Jón Gnarr was well-known as an actor, comedian, punk musician and author. He created a stir last year when he showed up at the Icelandic Pride march dressed in drag.
In addition to speeches, several well-known Faroese music acts performed in support of equal rights for the LGBT community.
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