He added that such discussions have been held annually for decades.
The board met twice to weigh its decision on both parties, and the very first meeting sparked a serious debate about whether the community should limit partnerships with all political parties, on which regular feedback is received. The meeting concluded that the matter is difficult.
“We decided to think for a while and set aside some time to gather information,” Moilanen said.
In the second meeting, the board confirmed the criteria for partnerships. “This year, we looked at our partnerships through what kind of human rights policy each party has practiced over the past year from the perspective of the rainbow community. Trade became a central focus,” he said.
The Center and the National Coalition were eventually found to be unsuitable partners on the basis that some of their members had voted against a government bill to reform trade after each party had characterized the vote as a matter of conscience.
“We were disappointed that you can approach human rights as a matter of conscience” Annu KemppainenHelsinki Pride’s executive director told Helsingin Sanomat.
The board also looked at how lawmakers from different parties have commented on the topic in public, and found that some have done so transphobically, if not outright violently, according to Moilanen. He added that this has contributed to an atmosphere that is dangerous and harmful to gender and sexual minorities.
– Our task is primarily to ensure the safety of our members.
Kemppainen added that Helsinki Pride is disappointed that some parties have refrained from rejecting their members’ transphobic remarks. Since the foundation of the organization is to promote the interests of the rainbow community, it decided not to give visibility to such legislators this year.
He added that the decision was not made against individual lawmakers, but rather at the organizational level.
“Helsinki Pride’s partnerships have nothing to do with party politics. We are a non-committal human rights organization – and that will be the case in the future as well,” Kemppainen emphasized.
On Friday, Moilanen also regretted that there were some misinterpretations in the decision, and emphasized that the decision only concerns the presence of the parties at this year’s event.
Petteri OrpoThe chairman of the coalition saw earlier last week that the decision was unusual.
“I am very saddened by the decision. I think it is a political decision, not a factual decision, he comment In Säätytalo on Tuesday, May 23. “This offends a lot of people in our party and I think it’s unusual.”
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page