“It can easily sound pretty hollow if on the one side you criticise the Trump administration for their reluctance to accommodate LGBT people and the rolling back of LGBT-positive legislation, and at the same time stand around drinking champagne with the ambassador who represents that administration.”
The organisation behind Copenhagen Pride Week has decided to stay away from the annual US Ambassador’s reception, as a protest against the Trump administration’s LGBT politics.
According to Denmark’s LGBT media Out & About, other LGBT organisations are also staying away from the reception, including LGBT Denmark.
The US Ambassador’s reception has been one of the most eagerly-anticipated events during Copenhagen Pride Week. It was previously hosted by US ambassador, Rufus Gifford, at the ambassador’s residence in Charlottenlund.
The new ambassador, Carla Sands, took over in 2017, appointed by Donald Trump. She sent out an invitation to a Pride reception on August 15. However, according to press officer with Copenhagen Pride, Thomas Rasmussen, the organisation will not be attending for political reasons.
“It can easily sound pretty hollow if on the one side you criticise the Trump administration for their reluctance to accommodate LGBT people and the rolling back of LGBT-positive legislation, and at the same time stand around drinking champagne with the ambassador who represents that administration,” he said.
The country’s largest LGBT organisation, LGBT Denmark has also decided to boycott the event.
“We don’t want to rubber-stamp the Trump Administration’s backwards-looking rolling back of LBGT rights by our presence,” said their spokesperson Peder Holk Svendsen.
The annual parade will take place on 18 August, followed by a show in Copenhagen City Hall Square. Sands has signed up to take part in the parade this year, but it is not confirmed in what capacity.
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