Finnish business owner charged with discrimination after cancelling booking over sexual orientation

A business owner in Haapajärvi, northern Finland, is facing charges of discrimination and defamation after cancelling a memorial event because sexual minorities were not welcome in her premises, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Prosecutor Kaisa Kytömäki of the Northern Finland Prosecution District has filed charges over an incident in October 2024, when entrepreneur Eira Maijala revoked a booking for a funeral memorial gathering. Maijala told Yle at the time that she did not want “rainbow people” in her venue, explicitly citing the sexual orientation of the catering service provider as the reason for cancellation.

Relatives of the deceased told Yle that Maijala informed them the booking was cancelled because “gays are not allowed here.” Around 40 funeral guests only discovered the cancellation upon arriving at the Siiponkoski school venue, which was locked and dark.

Maijala has denied wrongdoing during the pre-trial investigation. The case will be heard in Oulu District Court. No trial date has been set.