What Pride means to us
Everybody deserves to be loved just as they are. In More Joy, we do not only believe in that, but we also work for it. The sad fact is that still in 2025 in 68 countries homosexuality is still a crime. There is no agreement on human rights that applies to sexual- and gender minority. We want change. By everyday choices, anyone can make the world a better place for everyone.
What Pride and why do we still need it?
Pride is known as a celebration of love, self-acceptance and diversity. The first Pride movements happened in 1969 in New York, where people stood against the police and authorities’ discrimination towards sexual minorities. Occasion is known as Stonewall Riot. The first Pride marches happened a year later, 1970, in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Today’s Pride parades are getting bigger and bigger and in 2024 there was over 3.1 million attendees in New York’s Pride parade. In Finland, Helsinki Pride is the most prominent culture and human right occasion.
Even though we have made progress within human rights and sexual minorities rights, there is still plenty of work to do. Like mentioned earlier, there are many countries where being part of LGBTQ-community is punishable. This year, 2025, Hungary’s government banned pride in their country. Gladly, people are ready to fight for equal rights, and there were over 200 000 attendees marching on the streets of Budapest. Goal is to pressure country’s nationalist conservative politicians. There were politicians from different countries too, standing by equality and showing what humanity is.
In some countries you can get death penalty from being part of sexual minority. It is obvious that it is totally against basic human rights that should be default. Societies that have greater equality are likely to have lower crime rates and healthier population. In ideal society the pride wouldn’t be needed for the reasons it has to be needed right now. Ideally, it would only be celebration of love, not a fight for human rights.
Not only words, but acts
We need to have on-going conversation how equality shows in everyday life and what we can do better. Every person can help equality by their choices and acts. For example, voting for politicians who thrive for equal rights can have a huge impact in society. We must teach young kids about diversity and its benefits, not scare them by thought of being “different”. In schools it’s important to let teenagers to express themselves and let them have access to versatile sexual education.
Here in More Joy, we want equality for all. For us, difference among people is wealth and a resource. We want to learn more and more everyday so by our acts no one feels left out. As a small corporation we can spread information that educates more people. We have responsibility to show example about continuous development, not only in environmentally, but in humane aspects too. You can read more about our values from here.
Pride is not only one month thing. It is not a weekly happening; it is part of our everyday life. Even if you are personally not part of LGBTQ-community, fighting for their rights must be important for you. Equality benefits us all. Every time when society has inequality, everybody faces some kind of consequences from it.
Be part of the movement, live in the moment
Change may be slow, but we have the power of making it happening faster. Statements just as having something rainbow themed in your business premise or mentioning sexual minorities in your business’ development strategy shows modernity. By educating yourself, your employees or/and colleagues, workplaces are safer place to as many people as possible.
Real happiness and joy can be tangible in Pride parade. In Helsinki Pride this year, there was thousands of people being part of it and living in moment. If you have not yet being part of your local pride parade, you should go to the next one. No judging, just enjoying the moment.
We have made Pride-themed dishcloths to our collection that can be purchased from our webstore. Maybe you haven’t thought about it, but having rainbow dishcloth can also be a way to show support towards LGBTQ-community. Not only you can buy different models from our store, but you can also order dishcloths with your own pictures. For example, if you have memorable moments from parade, go to the “custom prints” on our website and upload the picture there. Then you can have unique and environmentally friendly dishcloths, that also work as statements for equality.
