Don’t let the terror overshadow the good memories

– I hope you don’t let terror take over your good memories from Oslo Pride 2022, writes Regine Folkman Rossnes, reminding that this was the first summer after the pandemic.

Most people have probably realized that the trial after the terror attack at Oslo Pride 2022 is underway. I do not bother to write the names of the accused. They are not worthy enough.

Rather, let’s point the pen rather than the gun at people we are against. Enough about them. I rather care about you who are reading this text.

What I hope is that you don’t let terror take over your good memories from Oslo Pride 2022. And if you didn’t participate – this was the first proper summer without restrictions after the pandemic. I hope you had a good Friday night.

On the train that started the next day, I met an acquaintance who said that this was the worst Pride ever. It made me angry. Not on that person. I fully understand the despair. There and then we also knew little.

But one thing I was sure of from the start – the good memories I was left with would not be erased, and they are still with me.

There was so much joy everywhere. Couple rocking in the sunset. Costumes. Colors. My personal favorite place was Pride Square at Youngstorget. Especially the family and youth area, separate from the alcohol service.

Here I observed happy children at adventure time with drag artists, and where those who wanted could get glitter make-up and dance on stage afterwards.

I also went out of my comfort zone, and had one of the drag artists apply glitter on my cheeks. Quiz night with Keiv Ungdom. Where all the participants ended up getting a prize at the end. Where a youngster showed up alone, and who we took into my team straight away.

And game night, where I got everyone’s attention by howling when all the pieces in Tumblin Tower came tumbling down, when I had tried to pry a piece out of the tower.

I have had the honor of being an artist during Oslo Pride several times. In addition, I have worked as a bartender in recent years. It is important to me to be involved in creating pleasant meeting places for people.

Friday was very hot. Luckily I was under a tent. At one point I saw an overheated drag queen, frantically trying to fan herself with paper. I had a rainbow fan left over in my bag and gave it to her. “Thank you, you saved me!”, she smiled.

It doesn’t necessarily take that much to make the world a slightly better place. Just a smile can brighten someone’s whole day.

I have several years of experience as a bartender, and this Friday night was one of the busiest days in my career. Therefore, I was excited about how the last working day would turn out, which turned out to be nothing.

It is still tough for many after the terror. Especially for those who ended up in the middle of everything. Of course, I understand that.

But we still have many nice environments that you can get involved in.

Sappho’s Friends in Oslo is one of those that has flourished, and where I now help organize meetings for queer women, non-binary and trans people of different genders. The shootings that night have not changed the fact that I am bisexual.

I hope to see you at Pride Park later this year. It will be exciting to see how Sofienbergparken will be used.

Until then – take care of yourself and others.