Queerland Magazine (2025)

15/07/2025

Q***rland City Guide – The First Q***r Map of the Nordics

Unlock the Q***r City – Your City, Your Story, Your Safe Space

Looking for where the q***r magic truly happens in Helsinki?
Say hello to Q***rland City Guide – the first and only digital guide of its kind in the Nordics, made by and for the LGBTQ+ community.

This isn’t just a map – this is your backstage pass to the real q***r heartbeat of the city. Whether you’re planning a visit or you’ve lived here for years, this guide reveals the vibrant, bold, underground, and fabulous sides of Helsinki that mainstream travel sites always miss.

Want to know where to find the best drag shows?
Looking for bear bars, q***r cafés, ballroom culture, leather nights, or secret cruising spots? We’ve got it all.
Need a q***r-friendly hotel, an LGBTQ+ tattoo artist, or even an agency for drag talent? It’s in there too.

And here’s the best part – it speaks your language:

With 28 available languages, Q***rland City Guide is ready for you no matter where you’re from. Just scan the QR code — and the city opens up in your pocket.

Find community. Discover safe spaces. Celebrate identity. Live your story.

Whether you’re curious, kinky, or craving connection, Q***rland City Guide is your trusted + fabulous digital companion.

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Do you run an LGBTQ+ business, venue, or event? Want to reach the right crowd? Or you’re a truly LGBTQ+ ally ?

We’ve got space for you. Get visible on a platform that speaks directly to your audience — 24/7.
We offer special promotional packages for local events, businesses, artists, and allies. Let’s collaborate and make sure you’re seen. Reach out now, and let’s talk.

Hello@q***rlandmedia.com

***rlandmedia ***rlandcityguide

07/07/2025

Helsinki Is Officially One of the Most LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the World — and That Deserves a Moment

When it comes to being loud about the good things, Helsinki has every reason to raise the volume.

According to the latest global ranking of the Most LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the World, Helsinki has proudly landed at number 23, standing tall among some of the most inclusive urban destinations across the planet. The data behind this list comes from trusted sources like Gay Index Rating and the Equality Index Rating , which measure everything from equality laws to community presence, safety, pride celebrations, and overall openness.

Now, here’s the part we really love: Four Nordic cities made the list. That’s right—Copenhagen came in at #17, Reykjavik at #19, Helsinki at #23, and Oslo at #24. It’s more than just numbers—it’s a powerful reminder that this region is building spaces where LGBTQ+ lives aren’t just tolerated, but genuinely embraced.

And Helsinki? It’s not just checking boxes. The city welcomes over 100,000 people to its Pride celebrations every year, a joyful, vibrant expression of what community and visibility can look like when backed by care, respect, and shared joy. The city is safe, progressive, and deeply human at its core. The kind of place where you can just be—your whole self, no filter needed.

No, this isn’t about politics. It’s not about waving a flag for show. It’s about recognizing and celebrating a city that’s doing the work—quietly, consistently, and with heart.

So here’s to Helsinki. #23 in the world, but #1 in our hearts today. Let’s keep making noise for the places that are making space.

Pictures by:

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***rlandmedia

26/06/2025

Helsinki is More Q***r Than We Know – and We Want to Hear From You!

Join us tomorrow Friday, June 27 from 16:00 to 17:30 at the official Pride House (Hobo Hotel Helsinki,) for a free and open workshop that puts your voice at the center.

We’re inviting the whole LGBTQ+ community to come share, speak up, and be seen. You don’t need to be popular, a content creator, or have a big platform—because everybody is welcome, you just need to show up as you are. Your story matters. Your voice matters. Your talent matters. Because you're important.

Let’s talk about what makes this city more q***r than it looks on the surface. Let’s make space for each other. Visibility matters—every single day of the year.

Free entry. Real talk. Open hearts. Your voice belongs here.

Q***rland Media Hobo Hotel Helsinki Helsinki Pride ***rlandmedia

23/06/2025

Q***rland at Helsinki Pride Park Festival 2025

We’re proud to share that Q***rland will be part of the Helsinki Pride Park Festival 2025 — happening, as always, in beautiful Kaivopuisto on Saturday, June 28th, starting at 1 PM.

This year, we’re honored to be an official Helsinki Pride Small Business Partner, and we’re bringing the full Q***rland vibe to the park.

Come visit our stand! Get to know more about what Q***rland is all about, explore our Q***rland Map, and check out our brand new Q***rland City Guide — your ultimate go-to for q***r-friendly spots and experiences.

There’ll be music, food, good energy, and all the color you can imagine. So come hang out, say hi, meet the team, and celebrate everything that makes Helsinki Pride one of the most vibrant events of the year.

See you there.

18/06/2025

Unlock the Q***r City – Your City, Your Story, Your Safe Space.

Looking for where to feel free, seen, and celebrated in Helsinki?
Welcome to Q***rland City Guide – the first and only LGBTQ+ city guide of its kind in Helsinki and across the Nordics.

This isn’t just another tourist tool. It’s a living, breathing celebration of q***r spaces, q***r people, and q***r stories. Whether you’re local or just passing through, this guide is your backstage pass to the most authentic LGBTQ+ experiences the city has to offer.

We’ve mapped it all:

🟣 Legendary drag nights and underground fe**sh parties
🟣 Q***r-owned cafés, bars, bookstores, and businesses
🟣 Trans meetups and Bear community events
🟣 Ball culture workshops, cruising areas, and the city’s only gay sauna
🟣 LGBTQ+ friendly hotels, restaurants, and hidden gems you won’t find on TripAdvisor

Q***rland City Guide isn’t static — it evolves with the community. Built in collaboration with young q***r and allied entrepreneurs, and powered by our partnership with .guide it reflects the real pulse of q***r Helsinki.

This is not just about visibility — it’s about viability. When we spotlight LGBTQ+ businesses and venues, we’re also activating the local economy and making space for q***r futures.

Available in 28 languages through smart AI translation, you can access it directly from your device. Just scan the QR code, follow us on social media, or download the Reveel app and step into q***r Helsinki like never before.

This city guide was made for us, by us.
Because every city deserves a q***r map — and every q***r story deserves to be seen.

***rlandmedia

17/06/2025

Step inside Oodi, Helsinki’s Central Library, and you’ll quickly realize—it’s not just a library. It’s a luminous architectural marvel, a civic living room, and this June, a proud rainbow-colored heartbeat of the city.

Floating above the city on the third floor, you’ll find Book Heaven—and nestled within, the Rainbow Shelf. This is no ordinary bookshelf. It’s a handpicked collection of stories, films, and voices that celebrate LGBTQ+ lives in all their complexity and beauty.

🌈 But that’s just the beginning.

Oodi doesn’t just host books—it hosts dialogue. During Helsinki Pride, the library comes alive with author talks, q***r film screenings, creative writing workshops, and even family-friendly rainbow storytimes. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, you’re invited to join these free, inclusive spaces where identity is honored and curiosity is welcome.

And if you’re craving deeper connection?
Join the Q***r Book Club, organized with the Helsinki Pride Community. Monthly Sunday sessions bring together people of all backgrounds to read LGBTQ+ literature—any language welcome, discussions in English.

💡And did we mention? All public restrooms at Oodi are gender-neutral. Because inclusion doesn’t stop at the page.

While Oodi stands tall in the city center, every neighborhood library in Helsinki opens its doors with the same spirit. Whether you’re in Kallio, Töölö, or Itäkeskus, you’ll find LGBTQ+ collections, resources, and pride-positive programs waiting for you.

This Pride Month, don’t just read stories—come live them. 📖❤️

🔗 Explore all Pride 2025 events hosted by Oodi and other libraries at: [oodi.fi/pride2025]

Keskustakirjasto Oodi ***rlandmedia

16/06/2025

In a world where sports can still feel exclusive, HOT ry stands tall as Finland’s only LGBTIQ+ sports club — and it’s more than just a club. It’s a movement for visibility, joy, and health. Founded in 1997 and based in Helsinki, HOT is home to over 200 members and offers a powerful message: Q***r people belong in sports. Period. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

From volleyball and floorball to swimming and aerobics, HOT welcomes everyone — whether you’re starting out, getting back into shape, or already an experienced athlete.

It’s not about perfection.
It’s about showing up, being yourself, and moving with pride.

Visibility in Every Movement

HOT doesn’t just stay local — they show up internationally too. Whether it’s EuroGames, Gay Games, or Helsinki’s own Respect Pride Football Tournament, we compete not just for medals, but for representation.

Every game we play, every match we finish, every race we run says loudly: “We’re here, we’re q***r, and we love sports.”

Events You Can’t Miss

🔹 Respect Pride Football Tournament – June 26, 2025 – Helsinki Casual, inclusive and full of joy. Three divisions: mixed, women’s and men’s. More information ➡️ hot.fi and page: Hot

🔹 EuroGames Lyon 2025 – July - With 37 sports and over 3,500 athletes already signed up, this is your chance to join a huge community of LGBTIQ+ athletes.

🔹 Gay Games València 2026 – June 27–July 4
The world’s most inclusive sporting and cultural event. 38 sports, art and culture programs, and unique local games like colpbol and pilota valenciana. GaygamesValència2026

Why It Matters

Because sports should be for everyone — not just the cis, the straight, or the elite.
Because physical movement heals, connects, and empowers.
Because visibility in sport can change lives — and save them.
Because being q***r and athletic are not opposites — they’re powerful together.

HOT is building a future where every goal is a win for inclusion.
Join us.

Cheer with us. Move with us. More information ➡️

Because Pride plays here. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

***rlandmedia ***r

11/06/2025

This month, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community not just for who we are, but for everything we bring to the table—our art, our resilience, our vision, and yes, our entrepreneurship.

In Finland, small q***r-owned businesses are stepping up to create real change. Among them is , a grassroots initiative started by , a massage therapist who understood through deep conversations with clients the need for safe, affirming services for LGBTQ+ folks.

With , Pepe built more than a platform—built a lifeline. A curated space where lgbtq+ customers can discover q***r-owned services that offer safety, acceptance, and dignity. From tattoo artists to car repair, from yoga instructors to radio creators, this platform amplifies those who welcome all of us exactly as we are.

In Jyväskylä, —an artist, educator, and community builder—created ***rcityjkl to unify the local q***r scene. Their mission: bring together LGBTQ+ businesses, associations, events, and art in one inclusive space, helping new arrivals and long-time residents alike discover the richness of Jyväskylä’s q***r culture.

“I wanted newcomers to know where to go, what’s happening, who’s out there. To feel seen, safe, and celebrated,” Wanda shares.

Their work is building bridges, boosting visibility, and transforming connection into economic opportunity.

Supporting q***r businesses isn’t just about inclusion. It’s about building a stronger, more ethical, and more resilient economy. And let’s be clear: this benefits everyone. When LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs thrive, cities become more dynamic. Local economies become more equitable. Societies become more empathetic.

Because q***r folks still face barriers to funding, discrimination in the marketplace, and a lack of role models. Because every like, share, and purchase helps counteract decades of invisibility.
Because economic justice is social justice.

And because your choice to support q***r businesses helps build a new economy—one where no one has to choose between authenticity and success.

Share and support your local community

***rlandmedia ***rentrepreneur ***rcityjkl

06/06/2025

What if a city could speak your language — not just in words, but in identity, in joy, in freedom?

Welcome to Q***rland Media, the first LGBTQ+ media outlet in Finland and the Nordic countries operating in English — and soon, in Spanish. Created by q***rs, for q***rs, Q***rland is more than a media platform. It’s a living, breathing collective. A digital home. A space where q***r lives aren’t just observed — they’re celebrated, amplified, and honored.

We’re here to bridge generations, uplift voices, showcase q***r excellence, and build a platform that truly reflects the diverse, vibrant reality of our LGBTQ+ communities — local and international.

✨ The Q***rland City Guide – Your Q***r Passport to Helsinki.
Not just a list of places, but a curated journey through q***r Helsinki:
Drag shows. Trans meetups. Fe**sh parties. Q***r-owned cafés. Bear brunches. Vogue workshops. Poetry slams. Cruising spots. And yes, joy — unapologetic, radical joy.

You can access it all through our Q***rland City Guide — just scan the QR code, follow us on social media, or download the .guide app and dive into q***r Helsinki like never before.

This guide isn’t static — it’s alive, just like us. It grows with our community, reflects our dreams, and highlights everything we love about q***r life here. Because being visible isn’t the finish line — it’s just the beginning.

We’re Hannu and Raúl Medina, the q***rdos behind this journey. Founders of , creators of and , and now, the beating hearts behind Q***rland. We’re storytellers, mental health advocates, partners, and proud gay men’s q***rs creating something we’ve always needed.

Q***rland is your space too. Whether you’re a drag icon or a quiet thinker, a trans activist or someone still figuring it all out — this is your home.

Let’s co-create. Let’s celebrate. Let’s make q***r history — together.
Fell free to contact us helllo@q***rlandmedia.com or DM

SPEAK UP 🟣 SPEAK OUT 🟣 BE LOUD
and Be Celebrated

***r ***rcommunity ***rmedia
***rlandmedia ***rlandcityguide

04/06/2025

June is not just a month on the calendar—it’s a movement, a celebration, and a declaration of presence. As Pride Month unfolds across the world, Helsinki Pride Week (June 23–29, 2025) offers a unique space where culture, activism, and q***rness converge. And this year, Q***rland is proud to stand at the heart of it all as an official Small Business Partner of Helsinki Pride 2025.

This partnership is more than a logo on a banner. It’s a reflection of what we believe in: that visibility is power, and that q***r lives and voices deserve not only to be heard but celebrated, supported, and documented with care.

Your Voice, Your Space: The Q***rland Workshop

As part of the Pride Week celebrations, we are thrilled to announce the Q***rland Workshop: “Helsinki Is More Q***r Than We Know. Come and Tell Us.”

Date: 27.06.2025
Location: HOBO Hotel Helsinki – Pride House (Kluuvikatu 4)
Time: 16:00 - 17:30
Entry: Free

Hosted at the official Pride House, thanks to the support of Helsinki Pride and HOBO Hotel, this workshop is more than a gathering. It’s a creative, open-hearted forum where you are invited to reflect, share, challenge, and collaborate. Come and be loud!

Let’s celebrate Pride Month everyday 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 Hobo Hotel Helsinki Helsinki Pride

***rlandmedia ***rlandworkshop ***r

29/07/2024

For LGBTQ+ athletes who aren’t openly out or come from countries where their identity is dangerous or illegal, using Grindr can be risky. They could be outed by others trying to expose them on the app.

To address this, Grindr has announced: “We’re disabling features like ‘Explore’ and ‘Roam’ within the Olympic Village. Additionally, the ‘show distance’ feature will be off by default, though users can choose to share their approximate location if they wish. Our aim is to help athletes connect safely without the fear of revealing their location or being identified.”

LGBTQ+ athletes face unique challenges, especially those from regions without basic rights and protections for their community.

Grindr, a popular dating app for LGBTQ+ individuals, is committed to user safety and privacy. Remember to use the app responsibly and be mindful of your surroundings. Stay safe and enjoy connecting with others!

***rlandmagazine ***rland ***r

26/07/2024

The Paris 2024 Olympics are set to be a historic and vibrant celebration, with at least 175 LGBTQ+ athletes ready to compete on the world’s biggest stage. These athletes are not just participants; they are symbols of resilience, diversity, and progress. As visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes grows, so does the inspiration they bring to millions worldwide.

Imagine the electrifying atmosphere as these trailblazers take their places in various sports, from the track to the pool, from the gymnasium to the field. Each one of them carries their unique story of overcoming adversity and breaking barriers, embodying the true spirit of the Olympic Games.

Paris 2024 is more than just a competition; it’s a beacon of inclusivity and acceptance, highlighting the significance of representation in sports. With every race run and every goal scored, these LGBTQ+ athletes are making history, showing that being true to oneself is the ultimate victory.

Get ready to cheer on these incredible athletes as they strive for gold, not just for their countries, but for equality and pride. Paris 2024 promises to be a celebration of love, diversity, and unyielding human spirit.

***rland ***rlandmagazine ***rathletes

Queerland Magazine

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