Record Stockholm Pride parade despite rain

While last year’s parade attracted 50,000 people with 89 floats, this year’s has 152 floats, almost double.

Part of the explanation for this year’s bump in attendees is that Stockholm Pride is also hosting Europride, greatly increasing the number of international guests.

The parade set off at 1pm from Humlegården in central Stockholm. As always, representatives from Sweden’s different political parties joined the parade, including Cecilia Malmström, Sweden’s Minister of Europe. Other parties represented include the Feminist Initiative and the Pirate Party.

However, the Christian Democrat party isn’t taking part again. Speaking to Expressen newspaper, party secretary Lennar Sjögren said that as a party they haven’t had any active contribution to the Pride week, so they are not prioritizing the parade.

Stockholm Pride’s press spokesperson Anna Söderström told Expressen newspaper that although the Christian Democrats are not taking part, there are many Christian groups joining the parade, for instance LGBT employees from the Swedish Church, Christian students and members of the Swedish Church’s Youth Association.

The parade is estimated to take around three hours with a grand finale in Tantolunden in Södermalm, Stockholm.