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Carl and his family celebrate diversity: "There has to be room for everybody"

When PR Consultant at Møns Bank Carl Henrik Paulsen and his family join Copenhagen Pride, they will be singing along to "It's Raining Men". They want to celebrate the right to be who you are and encourage others to join in.

8. Jul 2024
4 min
English / Dansk
Marina and Carl Henrik Paulsen have both worked for many years in the financial sector. Photo: Private

 When the Pride parade marches through the streets of Copenhagen in August, Carl Henrik Paulsen, a PR consultant at Møns Bank, will come along. 

In fact, it has almost become a family thing for him and his wife Marina Paulsen, having worked for many years in the financial sector too, to make the trip to Copenhagen from their home in Næstved. 

Their daughter Ann-Louise has also joined, as has their son Carl-Johan. He studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam and does drag queen performances in the Dutch capital's largest and oldest drag house. 

"Our son is gay and has a good life, but a lot of people don't. Our reason for joining is simply because we believe there should be room for everybody," says Carl Henrik Paulsen, adding that his son has also been on the Pride parade as a drag queen.

The 59-year-old PR consultant also gives it his all when the music plays.

"We're of course right there up front, shouting along to YMCA, It's Raning Men and what have you," explains Carl Henrik Paulsen, who also in other contexts happily treads the boards at company and private parties.

The fight has never been more important

It means a lot to the couple that they may join the Pride parade together with Finansforbundet. 

"We are pleased that our union supports the cause. And we also want to support our minority colleagues employed in the financial sector. Our family finds it very important that we accommodate everybody," Marina Paulsen explains.

(Artiklen fortsætter efter boksen)
The couple's son has participated in the Pride parade as a drag queen. Photo: Private

Finansforbundet has been part of the Pride parade since 2021 and will again this year be among the many participants in their festive garments on parade day which is 17 August. In addition, the trade union sponsors Copenhagen Pride, but works for a diverse labour market throughout the year, Vice President Steen Lund Olsen points out.

"Because the fight for communities accommodating everybody – regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and what other traits we bring – has in many ways never been more important," he states.

"It's generally more fun to go to work when we can be ourselves without reservations."

"The right to be you"

When Finansforbundet takes to the streets, it is with banners, signs and T-shirts with the message ‘The right to be you’. And there is a good reason for that, Steen Lund Olsen explains: 

"It's a matter very near to the heart of Finansforbundet that we should all be able to be true to ourselves, also when we go to work." It’s good for well-being. And it's generally more fun to go to work when we can be ourselves without reservations." That's why 'The right to be you' is the message we take to the streets when celebrating Pride," he says.

And for the bankers from Næstved, it is a very important message that they are more than happy to support.

"It doesn’t matter if it’s gender, sexuality, skin colour or religion, it's about celebrating the right to be whoever you are and the right to love whomever you love," says Marina Paulsen.

An inclusive sector

Carl Henrik Paulsen has about 100 colleagues at Møns Bank, but how many of them are gay, he does not know. 

"It's not important. In fact, it is completely irrelevant. The important thing is that the bank accommodates all types of people, and I certainly think it does – and I sense this to be true for the financial sector in general," he says. 

Leather and lacquer and drag queens

The couple are both looking forward to dancing their way through the capital again in August, because it is a very special experience to be part of the Pride parade.

"There are some in leather and lacquer,  and there are beautiful drag queens. And there are a lot of gay couples kissing and holding hands. It's one of those days a year when they can do so without risking insults – because unfortunate

They hope that many others will support and join the parade.
"You cheat yourself out of a fantastic experience if you don't go along," she says and is supplemented by her husband: 
"And even if you come alone, everybody is very welcoming."

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