A handful of parish priests from Struer, Viborg and Skive are taking part in the Viborg Pride parade on Saturday, August 22. Instead of their clerical robes, they are marching in black T-shirts with the word “præst” printed in rainbow colors.
The priests joined the parade as it set off through Viborg on Saturday morning, DR reports. According to the broadcaster, they want to celebrate diversity and draw attention to the rights and conditions of LGBT+ people.
One of the participants is Andreas Vinther Jensen, a parish priest in Skive Sogn. As reported by DR, he says the Folkekirken has a large task in showing that it is a house for all people, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation.
The priests left their robes in the church for the day. Their rainbow-lettered T-shirts identify them as clergy while they walk with the other participants through Viborg.
The parade started at 11:00 a.m. at Banegårdspladsen, the square by the railway station. From there it moved through the city center to De Frivilliges Hus, where the celebration continued, according to DR.
Organizers expect up to 150 participants
DR, citing the local newspaper Viborg Stifts Folkeblad, reports that organizers expect between 100 and 150 people to take part in this year’s parade. The event is listed for August 22, 2026 in the national pride calendar published by LGBT+ Danmark.
Andreas Vinther Jensen acknowledges that some Danes may be provoked by priests marking the occasion in this way. Per DR, he has already seen several negative comments on Facebook about the participation.
He says it is important to listen to concerned voices and to enter into dialogue, DR reports. He adds that he is not certain a Facebook comment section is the right place for that conversation.
Viborg Stifts Folkeblad reported on August 20 that Jensen took the initiative to invite more local priests to join the parade. He lives in Viborg and serves as a parish priest in Skive, according to the newspaper.
In that report, the newspaper noted that the aim is to bridge prejudices that have existed on both sides between the church and LGBT+ environments, according to Jensen. The article framed the move as an attempt to build bridges between clergy and Pride participants ahead of Saturday.
The priests come from three towns in the region: Struer, Viborg and Skive. Their participation is not organized by a national body, and no official statement from church authorities has been published in connection with the parade.
The parade is one of several local Pride events held around Denmark this summer, as listed in LGBT+ Danmark’s 2026 guide. The guide covers scheduling only and does not mention the priests’ participation.
