On Saturday, there will be rainbow trains on the streets of Oslo and a sign of solidarity in Kontraskjæret under the auspices of Oslo Pride.

Among those speaking at the commemoration was Storting President Masud Gharahkhani (Ap).

In his speech, he took a stand against queer hatred and specifically addressed religious community leaders with the responsibility he believed they had.

First time

– Thank you for being you. Thank you for always standing up for the values ​​of freedom and democracy that our country has built, even in these dark times when many are angry, sad, disappointed, and afraid. Thank you for clearly showing what we stand for here today, Gharahkhani opened his speech.

He went on to say that in April we marked 50 years since Norway repealed a law that said homosexuality was outlawed. A few days before the mass shooting, the pride flag was also raised outside the Storting for the first time.

Shop with a message for Norwegian Muslims

– The following week, our eyes filled with tears again. This time it was sadness, anger and horror. What happened outside the Per på Hjørnet and London pubs this summer shows that we can never take the values ​​of democracy and freedom for granted, said Gharahkhani.

– Not about religion

Gharakhhani said that three years ago he participated in Pride along with his own father and son. “Three generations of Norwegian Muslims”, he said. He then turned to the religious leaders:

– Being weird isn’t about what skin color or religion you have. Being weird is about having the right to love who you want to love. The same freedom as anyone else. It’s about having the same human rights as everyone else.

Got dirty hate mail

This is how Norway, and should be, President Storting demonstrated in his speech and continued:

– For those of you who are leaders of religious communities. For those of you who are lucky enough to live in a country of religious freedom where you have the freedom to be yourself, believe in Jesus, God or nothing. Impossible in many countries, but not in my Norway. As long as one of us is insecure about who they are, or who they are in love with, we can’t rest. And here we have to be uncompromising. Now is the time to overcome hatred, said Gharakhhani.

Bollestad participate

It is now two and a half months since Oslo was rocked by the mass shooting in which Kåre Arvid Hesvik and Jon Erik Isachsen were shot and killed. In addition, ten people were seriously injured, while eleven people were slightly injured.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap), Minister for Culture and Equality Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap) and Minister for Justice Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) also attended the commemoration. KrF leader Olaug Bollestad was also among those participating. Participation in the Pride train had been a controversial topic at KrF, and former party leader Ingolf Ropstad did not get on the train.

On Thursday, Dagbladet reported that Oslo city council leader Raymond Johansen was not participating because of a previous deal. Mayor Marianne Borgen represents the municipality of Oslo.

The rainbow train through the capital ended with some cheers in Kontraskjæret, and was a sign of support for the grotesque neighborhood after the mass shooting in June.