Would you like to take part in Helsinki Pride picnic but you don’t have a friend who you could come with? You’re most welcome to join us on our picnic area! Come and enjoy the Pride atmosphere together with us and meet new people. When you arrive we’ll tell you more and help you find the best place for yourself. There will be workers and volunteers of Family Relations Centre at the area welcoming you!

Our picnic is substance free area. K18. The safer space guidelines will be followed (see below). The picnic will be cancelled if it’s raining.

We’ll provide more information (e.g. where to find us) closer to Helsinki Pride event! Welcome <3

For whom: All LGBTQIA+ people are welcome to our picnic area! If you are under the age of 18, we’ll help you find the Youth Pride Area which is close to us in the park. They have lots of fun program there!

Time: Saturday July 1st at about 1-5pm. Feel free to arrive at and leave our picnic area when it’s best for you!

Place: Kaivopuisto Park, Helsinki. Our picnic area will be situated close to restaurant Kaivohuone, address: Iso Puistotie 1. Our picnic is very close to Youth Pride Area. Our picnic area is marked with an orange star on the picture below. Accessibility: You can find the official accessibility information of the Park Celebration below. Our picnic area is on even terrain very close to surrounding even pathways.

More information: You can find more information on the Park Celebration at Helsinki Pride website. More info on our picnic area from Sanna Metsäpuu: info@perhesuhdekeskus.fi.

You are most welcome! See you on our picnic area! <3

Accessibility

Accessibility information provided by Helsinki Pride:

The area in Kaivopuisto used for Pride should be even terrain and easy to move around. The area has even paths which lead to the service stations.

The park has four separate WC areas, all of which will have accessible toilets marked. The area will have a total of 14 accessible toilets.

Iso Puistotie will be closed to traffic for the time of the celebration but will be open as an accessible way to arrive at the front of Kaivohuone.

In case it rains a lot, it can become difficult to move around the park area.

Principles For a Safer Space

It is important that everyone taking part in any activities by Family Relations Centre has the opportunity to feel comfortable and welcomed as themselves. The responsibility for the creation of a safer space falls on everyone collectively. This is why we have developed the following principles to be followed at all moments of coming together.

Act with sensitivity.

There are many kinds of people, families, and relationships. Don’t assume the gender of another participant, or their family member, based on their appearance or name. Make a choice to not call children boys or girls, and don’t try to guess what a parent wants to be called. Don’t make assumptions or generalisations about the sexual orientation, family and love relationships, parenthood, bodies, or backgrounds of others. Respect everyone’s right to self-determination and indeterminacy, meaning the right to decide and share with others who and what they are.

Be trustworthy.

Everything that is shared in a meeting is absolutely confidential. It is also confidential who is in a meeting at a certain moment. Don’t take or publish photos without the permission of everyone visible in the picture.

Listen.

Give everyone an equal chance to use their voice, or to remain in the background if they choose to. Everyone can only ever speak for themselves. We learn from one another by truly listening.

You can participate according to your own needs.

Feel free to share as much or as little about things important to you as you wish. You do not need to share anything. Remember to take your own wellbeing into account.

Be respectful and friendly.

Show respect to others and to their experiences. Value the boundaries set by others. Please don’t touch another person without their consent, for example.

Give and receive feedback.

Some individuals may have practised sensitive ways of talking and actions for quite some time, while others are only at the beginning of this journey. Attitude is key, along with a desire to learn to act sensitively. If someone uses a term that is offensive, or which misrepresents a certain situation, correct it matter-of-factly. When making a mistake, take in the feedback. You can say, for instance: “Sorry. Thank you for correcting me.”

Get involved.

We do not tolerate harassment, racism, or discrimination. If you notice some form of harassment or other inappropriate conduct taking place, don’t remain a silent bystander. Go to the person experiencing the harassment for support, and inform the harasser of the reason: “What you just did is not ok”, for example. If you are unable to intervene in the situation yourself, please inform the event organisers immediately.

If you experience or witness harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behaviour, please inform the event organisers. If you want to get in touch about a situation later, please get in touch with Sanna Metsäpuu who works at Family Relations Centre. You can reach them via email info@perhesuhdekeskus.fi.