Major sponsors have recently pulled their support from the Copenhagen Pride community and its annual Pride parade after it demanded that companies choose a side on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Copenhagen Pride issued a statement in February expressing solidarity with the Palestinians and concern over its sponsors' ties to Israeli companies, especially those operating in the West Bank.
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Pro-Palestinian rally in Copenhagen, Denmark
(Photo: Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Helms/Reuters)
Viewing this as an ultimatum, Maersk, Dansk Industries, Google and Novo Nordisk (manufacturer of popular weight loss drug Ozempic), along with other leading Danish corporations, decided to withdraw their sponsorship. As a result, the political leader of the community Lars Hendrickson resigned from his position.
The decision deals a significant financial blow to the organizers of the parade whose budget last year stood at 7.6 million Danish kroner ($1 million), with half of that amount coming from now-withdrawn corporate sponsors.
This year's budget is estimated at 8.5 million kroner ($1.2 million), but with some deals unsealed before the dispute, it’s uncertain whether organizers will be able to cover the costs.
Speaking to Ynet, an Israeli academic living in Copenhagen and part of the local LGBTQ+ community expressed deep shame about the situation. "Firstly, there’s the foolish need of the community to intervene in the war, then taking a side,” he said.
“And if you want to side against Israel, you also expect major corporations with ties to Israel to do the same? And explicitly to choose a side that doesn’t really respect the LGBTQ+ community. Why would these companies do such a thing? How does it serve them?"
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Israel Square in Copenhagen vandalized by pro-Palestinian protesters
(Photo: EPA/Emil Nicolai Helm)
"Copenhagen Pride simply overestimated their influence," he added. "They thought that because they represent a minority population, everyone should heed their statements. But no one is interested in what an LGBTQ+ organization has to say about the war.
“It was a foolish, irresponsible and dangerous move. Pride parades hold significant value, both in visibility and in genuinely helping people come out of the closet who are still afraid. This year's parade in August will be much less impactful, and if the organization does not mend relations with these companies, there might not be a Pride parade at all next year. You cannot bite the hand that feeds you."
Copenhagen Pride responded: "We apologize if our messages were not clear. We have no intention of forcing anyone to choose sides in a conflict, and our sole aim is to improve the quality of life for the LGBTQ+ community in Denmark."