Conservatives chalk rainbow outside embassy

Norway's Conservative Party has jumped on the rainbow protest bandwagon, with party activists filling in the zebra crossing outside Oslo's Russian embassy in gay colours.

Published: 28 August 2013 10:56 CEST

Conservatives chalk rainbow outside embassy

Rainbow crossing - Heidi Nordby Lunde

The protest is a direct copy of the one carried out last week by unnamed gay activists, with just one difference — the Conservatives chose not to use paint.

"We used coloured chalk, because we do not want to engage in any civil disobedience," Conservative politician Heidi Nordby Lunde, who led the protest, told TV2.

The small group of Conservative party members carried out the act alongside a delegation from Sweden's Moderate Party.

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Oslo Pride cancels street festival over coronavirus fears

The parade normally attracts 450,000 people. Photo: Martin Fjellanger/Oslo Pride

Fredrik Dreyer, Chairman of Oslo Pride, said that in the current “frightening and unreal” situation, it was impossible to go ahead with the physical festival which had been due to take place between June 19 and June 28.

“It is our absolute last resort and we have turned over every stone in the hunt for a possible solution, including a postponement or a change in date,” Dreyer said in a press release

“It would not be responsible for us to hold the physical events during Oslo Pride given the dangers posed in terms of spreading infection.

“Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean there will be no Pride – there will! We are far more than just a festival – and you’ll see that this year too.”

The decision to cancel a parade in mid-June will raise further questions over the government's delay in taking a decision over the children's parades that form the centre of National Day celebrations on May 17.

“We know that this is a decision we have to take, but we want to know a little more first,” Justice Minister Monica Mæland said in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

As many as 450,000 people take place in the city's Pride march every year, making it one of the most colourful and well-attended events in the city each year.

In the press release, Dreyer said that his organisation was already planning “alternative events to show the strength of our community”.

“We will be live-streaming debates to showcase the breadth of our movement and the diversity in our community. We will continue to make our mark as norm breakers across all social media, and we want you on board too!” he said.

Ole Prin-Sand, Head of Pride Art, said he was “heartbroken” that the physical festival had been cancelled.

“But we are excited about and see great potential in engaging with an audience across the country through the use of digital solutions,” he said.

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