Over the summer, Pride events and parades took place in many cities across Europe to celebrate LGBTI culture and campaign for equal rights – a fight that is not yet finished and that Liberals feel very strong about. Our member parties and their politicians actively participated in the Pride events in the capitals Stockholm, Amsterdam, Prague and Copenhagen, as well as in many other cities across Europe.

The Pride events of the month of August got started with this year's EuroPride on 4 August in Stockholm, where both of our Swedish member parties, Centerpartiet and Liberalerna, and notably, ALDE Party Vice President Fredrick Federley MEP actively joined.

Kärlek för Sverige framåt!🏳️‍🌈
Partiledardebatt igår och ett sprudlande Pridetåg idag, med över 400 centerpartister.

Tack alla som var med för att lyfta medmänsklighet, öppenhet och tolerans. Rätten att få vara den man är och älska vem man vill. Happy Pride! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/SIZ8lQQFUM

— Annie Lööf (@annieloof) August 4, 2018

ALDE Party President Hans van Baalen MEP also travelled to Stockholm for the occasion of the launch of the new network "LGBTI - Liberals of Europe."

"To fight for respect and equal rights for the LGBTI+ communities is in our liberal DNA," he said.

Attending #StockholmPride & meeting with Liberalerna leader Jan Bjorklund; addressing the new network “LGBTI - Liberals of Europe” and supporting the Centerpartiet election rally with Annie Lööf. To fight for respect and equal rights for LGBTI+ communities is in our liberal DNA!! pic.twitter.com/cN3M9OcOgk

— Hans van Baalen (@hansvanbaalen) August 4, 2018

“LGBTI Liberals of Europe” network of @ALDEParty was launched. @hansvanbaalen @federley #lgbt #nowoczesna #stockholm pic.twitter.com/vuUDejYl7z

— Milosz Hodun (@MHodun) August 3, 2018

The EuroPride celebration continued on Saturday 18 August in another Swedish city, Gothenburg, with the participation of our member parties again and with the addition of European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.

Marching for everybody’s right to love and be who they are.⁦@EuroPride2018⁩ 🌈💕❤️ pic.twitter.com/yPGRq0YuoC

— Cecilia Malmström (@MalmstromEU) August 18, 2018

On 4 August was also the turn of the Dutch capital, where our member parties, VVD and D66, proudly navigated through the colourful canals of Amsterdam.

In Nederland mag je 365 dagen per jaar zijn wie je bent en houden van wie je wilt. Een paar dagen geleden in Giethoorn... 🏳️‍🌈 #VVDkleurtroze pic.twitter.com/TlWxlolVER

— VVD (@VVD) August 3, 2018

🌈 Happy Pride! #liefdeisliefde #Pride #AmsterdamPride #CanalParade pic.twitter.com/NwkZ8WqnY6

— D66 (@D66) August 4, 2018

11 August was the turn of the Prague Pride with the presence of ALDE Group Vice President Sophie in 't Veld MEP.

Op weg naar @praguepride #jsmefer Tsjechië staat voor een spannende keuze dit jaar. Meer weten? https://t.co/vh0tDAYLwD 🌈👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩👨‍❤️‍👨 @ALDEgroup @D66 #equalmarriage pic.twitter.com/cTk0sdMVPC

— Sophie in 't Veld (@SophieintVeld) August 10, 2018

Last weekend, on 18 August, the Danish Liberals of Venstre, including the Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Radikale Venstre, including the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, joined thousands in the streets of Copenhagen in support of equal rights.

#CPHPRIDE er Danmark, når Danmark er bedst. Det er en manifestation af frisind. Et budskab til hvert et hjørne af verden. I dag er jeg ekstra stolt af at være dansker. #dkpol #YouAreIncluded #LGBTI pic.twitter.com/qdS2jaGagO

— Lars Løkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) August 18, 2018

Fremad for frihed, kærlighed og mangfoldighed ❤️🌈 Gå med til #cphpride https://t.co/ES7hyLOaWT pic.twitter.com/WDDqgxSYMS

— Radikale Venstre (@radikale) August 18, 2018

Quiet morning to Pride Parade #CphPride2018 equal rights for all #FutureOfEurope pic.twitter.com/LIVR3vejFB

— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) August 18, 2018

Stay up to date on all upcoming Pride events on this ILGA-Europe calendar.