Date: Mon, 15 Aug 1994 18:57:54 +0300 (EDT)
From: micke@seta.fi (Mika Torvinen)

QUEERS DO MATTER!!!

The Finnish QueerPride succeeded to attract well over 6.000 people during
the Pride Week in Aug. 8-14 in its almost 100 events in Helsinki. Programme 
included different cultural performances such as literature, photographs, 
films, videos, paintings; very heavy emphasis was in the political side of
the festival (which the Pride Week really turned into). 

The media followed closely our Lesbian and Gay Wedding ceremony, which was 
to push Finnish right-wing government to move forward with the law of the 
registration of same-sex partnerships. A crowd of over 1.300 followed the 
married lesbian and gay couples (4 couples) in the Wedding Parade to a 
park where 20 years ago the first Finnish gay demonstration took place.

Almost 90 interviews was given to the press, mostly to the radio stations.
Eg. national Finnish network Radio Mafia (targeted for people aged 15-35)
had its Thursday programme dedicated completely to the queer matters, star-
ting at 6 am and ending at midnight. Also the wedding ceremony was covered
in almost all TV news on Saturday. 

Today (Monday) at least 2nd biggest tabloid covered the Main events of the
Saturday happenings with front page news, and followed by four large stories
elsewhere in the paper. Also MTV3 (commercial TV channel) had an interactive
TV programme in the afternoon about lesbian and gay partnership laws,
12000 voted, 39% pro and 61% contra. Obviously only grandparents were home!!

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Mika Torvinen		   Mannerheimintie 37 B 25, SF-00100 HELSINKI
micke@seta.fi		   tel +358-0-4772763      fax +358-0-1358306

SETA - The National Finnish Lesbian & Gay Association - 20 yrs in '94
PO Box 55, SF-00531  HELSINKI, tel +358-0-1358302, fax +358-0-1358306
    General inquiries at the SETA Infodesk email to: seta@seta.fi
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