World Pride 2026 was held in Amsterdam from July 25th until August 8th. EPPride sent an official delegation to take part at the World Pride Conference (August 5-7). Representatives from EPPpride also joined our Dutch member organisation CDA Pride Netwerk in the Canal Pride and the World Pride March.
The main event for EPPride was the seminar session that was co-hosted as part of the conference together with the LGBTI Liberals of Europe. The seminar titled “Political Leadership at the Subnational Level: all politics are local – inclusiveness through local leadership” was held August 5th.
EPPride was represented in the panel by Second Vice President Kevin Maas and the Deputy Mayor of Bergen, Norway Charlotte Spurkeland, while Secretary General Fredrik Saweståhl acted as co-moderator for the discussion. The seminar highlighted the advocacy work of political leaders in subnational jurisdictions, such as state legislatures and city councils, in driving LGBT+ equality. All speakers gave good examples from their perspectives.
Kevin Maas talked about the work done by EPPride to gather good examples from across Europe of initiatives taken by EPP leaders on the local level that we have complied in the EPPrides handbook for local policies “Anchored in Values, Open to All”. Charlotte Spurkeland contributed by talking about the comprehensive plan for LGBTIQ+ inclusion that she is responsible for in the municipality of Bergen.
The panel also consisted of Alex Greenwich, (Independent), Member of the Parliament of New South Wales, Australia, Helen Belcher (Lib Dems UK, Lib), Rapporteur on LGBTIQ+, Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Natasha Steinberg, Director General for Human Rights, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina and with Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett, LGBTI Liberals of Europe as the other co-moderator A truly global panel that lead to insights and a strong belief in the importance of local initiatives and local leadership.
During the conference EPPride also organised and took part in shorter side-meeting with among other Global Equality Caucus and their chair Lord Herbert to discuss different ways to increase influence and impact among centre-right parties and politicians and Pride organisers from Portugal and Lithuania to learn more about the political development in the countries.
EPPride and CDA Pride Netwerk also organised a zomerborrel (summer time after work) with the EPPride delegation and members of CDA Pride Netwerk which was appreciated by all taking part.