No retreat from Pride: University of Copenhagen keeps marching

The annual diversity celebration Copenhagen Pride is taking place again, this time 9 to 17 August, and the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is joining it this year also.

Throughout the week, UCPH will host a number of events to mark and celebrate the fact that diversity and inclusion remain important values at the university.

»We want all students and staff to feel welcome and included at UCPH. And that’s what we celebrate when we join Pride under the banner Diversity of Copenhagen,« says Bente Stallknecht, who, in addition to being Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, is also UCPH’s strategic sponsor for diversity, equality and inclusion.

Defying Trump

Several UCPH research projects that include the words ‘gender’ or ‘diversity’ and that are funded by US research grants have now been shut down, as the Trump administration withdrew support as part of its campaign against woke culture.

When asked whether it’s provocative to replace the word university with diversity on the UCPH parade banners, Bente Stallknecht replies:

»Of course, it’s unfortunate when research projects are shut down, as it has serious consequences for those involved. But we’re in Denmark, where we value the opportunity to celebrate academic freedom and diversity. So we’re holding our course — unaffected by what’s happening in the US.«

Bente Stallknecht adds that international staff and students in particular seem to appreciate the university’s visible commitment to diversity in Copenhagen.

Politicised Pride

Several major companies withdrew their support for Copenhagen Pride last year, citing the event’s increasing politicisation due to its explicit pro-Palestinian stance on the war in Gaza.

Aarhus University withdrew from Aarhus Pride in May this year, stating that the institution did not want to be seen endorsing unrelated political positions.

According to Bente Stallknecht, the politicisation of Pride does not affect the University of Copenhagen’s participation.

»We’ve marched in Pride for many years — it’s a regular event, and we’re continuing to do it. This theme has always been political, and what’s happening in the US now only underlines that. But at the University of Copenhagen, everyone should feel at home, and that’s what we’re celebrating with Pride,« she says, adding that she herself will also be walking in the parade under UCPH’s rainbow banners.

What to expect during Pride Week

You don’t have to identify as LGBTQIA+ — an abbreviation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, with the + signifying inclusivity towards additional identities: You are still welcome at UCPH events during Pride Week.

On Tuesday morning, 12 August, sociologist Stine Marsal will host a webinar on what it means to be yourself in the workplace — and how you can contribute to genuine inclusion. As the organisers put it, this is your chance to learn everything your LGBTQIA+ fellow students and colleagues wish you already knew.

On Wednesday afternoon, 13 August, the symposium Research Under the Rainbow will take place, where UCPH researchers and students will present current thesis and research projects within LGBTQIA+ topics.

»We want to offer fresh inspiration on how students and staff can contribute to efforts in this field. At the same time, UCPH hosts a wide range of academic disciplines — from humanities to science — where the research itself has an LGBTQIA+ perspective. It makes perfect sense to spotlight this research during Pride Week, with presentations from students and researchers at various stages of their careers,« says Bente Stallknecht.

On Saturday 16 August, UCPH will join the main parade, filling the streets of Copenhagen with glitter and good vibes. As a warm-up, everyone is invited to a communal breakfast in the morning.

Copenhagen Pride’s history stretches back to the 1970s, and from a university perspective, there’s no doubt about the importance of taking part in the movement.

At the University of Copenhagen, you should be able to see yourself reflected in the people who research, teach, and communicate new knowledge. And at the end of the UCPH rainbow, you’ll find better education and better research, says Bente Stallknecht.

This article was first written in Danish and published on 6 August 2025. It has been translated into English and post-edited by Mike Young.