However the city of Vantaa agreed to allow the posters. Youth organisations in the capital region have also given the group the green light to promote their campaign.
The campaign calls for athletes, fans and sports officials to fight homophobia.
”It is a shame that sports officials in Finland’s largest cities have taken a negative stance on this campaign. The topic of this campaign affects many people in public sports facilities,” says Maija Paloheimo, a communications coordinator for the campaign.
Kirsti Laine, who works for the government’s sports department and is the deputy chair of the sexual minorities and human rights organisation Seta, says that the topic of homosexuality is especially taboo in male sports.
The campaign includes a website in Finnish, posters and postcards that are being distributed throughout the capital region in August and September. Campaign partners include the Finnish Sports Federation and Seta. The campaign was funded by the European Commission.