"A manifestation for equality"

This year it is KTH's turn to coordinate Academic Pride, which aims to strengthen and demonstrate the importance of inclusive and equal work and study environments within academia.

"Everyone should feel welcome and included - something that is also included in our overall goals," says Anders Söderholm, President of KTH.

Have you been in the parade before?

"No, it's going to be fun I think and a real party and I'll probably be joined by some other presidents too."

You are the first time a KTH President has participated in Pride. What do you think about it?

"I see it as a manifestation of everyone's equal value and equality. And that's why it feels important. The fact that the academic world is open to everyone is also a quality issue."

Academic Pride is a collaboration between several of Stockholm's higher education institutions and student organisations around Stockholm Pride. The aim is to highlight the importance of LGBTQIA+ issues in the higher education sector and at the universities, both in terms of research and teaching and in terms of inclusive work and study environments.

The Academic Pride network is also organizing a seminar  during Stockholm Pride week. It is about how the situation for transgender people in Sweden has changed, or not, over the past 50 years? The seminar will be moderated by Roh Petas, Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Strategist at KTH.

 The parade will start on Norr Mälarstrand at 13:00 with the possibility to join and hangout at KTH from 10:00  and goes to Östermalms IP.

Text: Jill Klackenberg