Best day of summer with Academic Pride
The most important party of the summer took place on 2 August when KI's students, alumni and staff danced in the colourful Pride parade in Stockholm. For many participants, this was the best day of the summer when leading universities gathered under the Academic Pride flag and the focus was on inclusion and human rights.
During Pride week, the rainbow-colored flag flew high on KI’s campuses in Solna and Flemingsberg. The event ended on Saturday with the now traditional Pride parade, a joyful and colourful manifestation for inclusion and human rights.
Since 2017, Karolinska Institutet has participated in Pride together with various higher education institutions and their student unions in Stockholm as the Academic Pride network.
“Academic Pride is an important reminder that academia should be a safe place for everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexuality,” says Patrik Blomberg, president of Medicinska Föreningen, one of KI’s student unions, on his way out in the parade. “In a world situation where the rights of LGBTQI+ people in many places are threatened or restricted, it becomes even more important that we stand up for inclusion, diversity and the equal value of all people.”
In addition to KI, this year's Academic Pride also included KTH, Stockholm University, Södertörn University – this year's coordinator for the network – the Stockholm School of Economics, the Swedish Red Cross University College and Marie Cederschiöld University.
Participation gives strength
Medicinska Föreningen includes the association Queerolinska, with the aim of representing the interests of LGBTQIA+ students at KI.
“I especially appreciate that Queerolinska is involved today and makes LGBTQI+ students in the medical field visible. Their commitment shows how much power there is when we organize and celebrate together. Marching side by side with students and colleagues from across the sector gives both hope and strength, and sends a clear signal of solidarity,” says Patrik Blomberg.
Academic Pride is important to highlight LGBTQIA+ issues at higher education institutions and at KI, summarises Alice Wahl, acting coordinator for equal opportunities at KI.
“It's about making LGBTQIA+ perspectives visible in teaching, research and in our work and study environment. These issues are priorities at KI, at the same time as we clearly need to continue to stand up for everyone's equal value and rights. Pride is an opportunity to express pride and highlight the importance of these issues,” she says.
Pride House, in the Clarion Sign Hotel, was an important hub during Pride week with an extensive program that offered everything from debates to coding. Every year, Academic Pride coordinates a research seminar at Pride House.
This year, the network was represented by researchers at the Red Cross. They talked about a research project on refugees who identify as LGBTQIA+ and have experience of migration to Sweden.
Good start to the party
Saturday's festivities started in the morning when Academic Pride invited to a pre-party at the Stockholm School of Economics, after which the parade started at Norr Mälarstrand.
Ewa Ehrenborg, academic vice president for higher education and professor at the Department of Medicine, Solna, KI, participated in the parade.
“It is extremely gratifying to see so many people on site to celebrate diversity and inclusion. KI works purposefully to make LGBTQIA+ issues visible in both research and education. It is an important issue from many perspectives, not least it is important for the work environment and culture at KI,” says Ewa Ehrenborg.
During the parade, students, staff and alumni danced and celebrated dressed in Academic Pride's t-shirts all the way to Östermalms IP.
The road was lined with Stockholmers on summer vacation and tourists who waved and clapped the participants in the parade.
Always in focus at KI
During Pride week, LGBTQIA+ is highlighted a little extra, but KI has a continuous focus on these issues. Alice Wahl gives some recent examples.
“We investigate and follow up risks of discrimination and harassment for students and employees through several surveys and work with preventive and promotional efforts,” she says and continues:
“Teaching and supervising staff have access to digital support to work inclusively. This digital toolbox addresses issues such as the inclusion of gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexuality, as well as norm-critical perspectives and pedagogy,” Alice Wahl concludes.
More pictures the Pride Parade in Stockholm 2025
