Despite rising controversies and opposition from certain political fronts, the Pride flag will once again fly in front of Christiansborg during Copenhagen Pride this year. This decision has not been well received by several politicians, including Henrik Dahl from the Liberal Alliance (Liberal Alliance) and Pia Kjærsgaard from the Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti).

Pia Kjærsgaard, who personally opposed the proposal when it was first introduced in 2018, has expressed her strong dissatisfaction. “It’s really ridiculous. It is national flags, and especially the Dannebrog, that should hang in front of Christiansborg,” she stated, adding that as the former Speaker of the Folketing (the Danish Parliament), she previously prevented the flag from being raised. However, since her term as Speaker ended, the decision to fly the Pride flag has been implemented without her support.

Since 2020, the rainbow flag has been raised every year, but this year there was uncertainty about whether it would be repeated. This uncertainty was partly due to a sponsorship issue where Copenhagen Pride encouraged its partners to take a stance on the Israel/Palestine conflict. This situation has led to the absence of several politicians, youth parties, and Equality Minister Marie Bjerre at this year’s parade.

The Presidium of the Folketing, which includes Speaker Søren Gade and Deputy Speakers Jeppe Søe, Karsten Hønge, Leif Lahn Jensen, and Karina Adsbøl, discussed the matter in June. Although both Søe and Adsbøl have publicly opposed flying the flag, a majority in the Presidium decided that the rainbow flag should be raised again this year.

Adsbøl from the Denmark Democrats (Danmarksdemokraterne) expressed particular concern about Copenhagen Pride’s involvement in the Israel/Hamas conflict, labeling the decision as problematic. Henrik Dahl from the Liberal Alliance similarly criticized the decision, suggesting that the Pride flag now divides rather than unites people. He claims that the flag has been “hijacked” and now represents something highly sectarian and controversial, which the Folketing should not support.

Speaker Søren Gade emphasized in a written comment that raising the flag should not be seen as political support for a specific organization, but rather as support for individual freedom and the right to be oneself. He noted that the decision regarding flag raising will be reconsidered next year.