The Danish AIDS Fund marks its 40th anniversary with a celebration at Copenhagen Pride in the heart of Copenhagen, highlighting decades of activism in HIV prevention, support, and education through music, discussion, and community events. The event takes place at the City Hall Square in the heart of Copenhagen and starts at 6.30 PM.
Celebrating 40 Years of Advocacy at the Copenhagen Pride
On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Copenhagen’s iconic City Hall Square will host a powerful celebration as the Danish AIDS Fund commemorates its 40th anniversary during Copenhagen Pride. The Danish humanitarian organization, known for its tireless work in HIV prevention and LGBTQ+ rights, invites the public to an evening of reflections, entertainment, and sexual health awareness.
The organization’s stage program brings together some of Denmark’s most beloved cultural icons. Actress and the Danish AIDS Fund president Susse Wold will reflect on her decades-long role in the HIV/AIDS movement, while legendary singer Sanne Salomonsen revives HIV awareness anthems from the 1990s. The celebration will conclude with an electric DJ set from drag performer Diana Diamond.
Program Highlights at Copenhagen Pride
The anniversary event kicks off at 6:00 PM with a welcome by AIDS-Fondet Executive Director Lars Christian Østergreen, who will speak on the foundation’s mission and its evolution over four decades of fighting for life and love in the face of stigma and illness.
At 6:30 PM, journalist Kristian Madsen will lead an on-stage conversation with Susse Wold. As president of the AIDS Fund for nearly four decades, Wold has played a pivotal role in both public education and destigmatization efforts.
From 7:00 to 7:30 PM, music legend Sanne Salomonsen will perform her emotional hit “Den jeg elsker” (“The One I Love”), a song that became a symbol of Denmark’s response to the HIV crisis in the 1990s. Her voice helped humanize the crisis and sparked national discussion around empathy and awareness.
Later in the evening, from 7:45 PM to 8:45 PM, the crowd will enjoy “The Great Sex Quiz,” an interactive, educational, and playful look at 40 years of sexuality, hosted by drag queens Jezebelle May Daniel’s and Lathisya Adore. The quiz incorporates themes of evolving sexual norms and health knowledge — and comes with the chance to win prizes.
From 9:00 PM until 11:00 PM, Diana Diamond will keep the party alive with a dynamic DJ set that spans hits from 1985 to 2025, offering a musical journey through four decades of cultural change.
Four Decades of Struggle and Celebration
Founded in 1985 in response to the growing AIDS crisis, the Danish AIDS Fund was created to address an urgent lack of government and institutional support for people living with HIV. Today, the organization remains Denmark’s leading advocate for sexual health, supporting not only research and patient aid but also education and global activism. Recently Copenhagen was even ranked the most inclusive city in the world.
According to the AIDS Fund, more than 37,000 people in Denmark have been tested through its initiatives in the past five years, and the organization continues to offer low-threshold services like its Checkpoint clinics, which provide free testing and counseling, particularly for young people and LGBTQ+ communities.
However, the anniversary also comes at a challenging moment. Settings in which LGBTQ+ people are criminalized or persecuted worldwide are increasing. Meanwhile, politicians in several countries have cut back on funding for global HIV programs. Simultaneously, Europe is seeing a resurgence in sexually transmitted infections, a trend the Danish AIDS Fund warns may undermine decades of public health progress.
Despite these global setbacks, the organization chooses to celebrate. This milestone is not only a time for reflection, but a call to action. As stigma, discrimination, and disinformation continue to threaten sexual health worldwide, the AIDS Fund renews its commitment to a world without HIV transmission and affirms the basic right of all people to love boldly and live fully.
Continuing the Work Ahead
Looking towards the future, the Danish AIDS Fund will continue its global collaboration efforts. From leading awareness campaigns in Denmark to fighting for sexual rights in hostile environments, the foundation is doubling down on its core belief: that joy, education, and health belong together.
Throughout 2025, additional anniversary events will take place, including art exhibitions aiming to confront remaining taboos about HIV and awards recognizing pioneers in the field. AIDS-Fondet has also launched a dedicated webpage for its 40th anniversary, detailing its past accomplishments and future goals.
At its core, the Danish AIDS Fund’s message remains unchanged since 1985: sexual health is a human right, and every life lived with dignity is worth celebrating.
