Bubbles, burgers and drag: Brow master Thomas McEntee kicks off Stockholm Pride with an intimate soiree

“This may come as a shock,” says Thomas McEntee, who stands at the mic in a dramatic kimono, cinched with a corset. He drops his voice to a whisper for dramatic effect: “I’m a homosexual.” It’s the top of Stockholm Pride week and the beloved brow master has welcomed a community of queer creatives into his newly-opened brow salon in Kungsholmen. It was the perfect setting to remind everyone that Pride, though now closely associated with raucous celebration, finds its roots in protest. “It’s easy to forget the things that don’t affect us in our everyday lives,” says McEntee, noting how fortunate we are to live in Stockholm, a city that accepts and celebrates its LGBTQIA+ community. “What we need to remember is there’s still members of our LGBTQIA community who don’t get to stand up and live freely.”

Related: Your definitive guide to Pride 2024 in the Scandinavian capitals

But Pride is also a raucous celebration. Following McEntee’s speech, beloved Swedish drag queen Miss Tobi hit the floor, serving a stunning lip-synch of Kylie Monique’s 'Padam Padam' (a queer anthem of there ever was one) followed by a performance by singer Patrik Jean (who also delivered a personal anecdote about attending Pride whilst still in the closet then downloading Grindr for the very first time en route home). Tobi echoed McEntee’s sentiment. “If you’re a drag queen who can’t stand up and fight for your rights, it’s time to hang up your sequinned dress,” she says.

Following the performances, guests noshed on McDonald’s burgers and sipped on bubbles and Heinekens. As the sun set, the crowd headed home, Mac gift bags in hand, primed for the Pride week ahead.