Solvesborg, a municipality in southeastern Sweden with a population of 9,000, decided to stop hoisting the LGBT flag on city hall during Stockholm Pride month. The annual LGBT-themed festival is held every August in the nation’s capital.
The idea of flying the rainbow colored flag was introduced in 2013 by center-left Social Democrats. However, now that the conservative Swedish Democrats among other right-leaning parties are in control, the local flag code has been revised.
Mayor Louise Erixon (SD) explained tradition to be important and older residents do not share the same view as the reason behind discarding the Pride flag.
Sophia Ahlin, LGBT-themed event planner and politician, scolded her Moderate Party colleagues for siding with Swedish Democrats stating that the decision went completely against Moderate’s principles of equality for all people.
Sweden is largely considered liberal and a LGBTQ-friendly country after legalizing same-sex marriage in 2009. However, Solvesborg is often cited as an example of conservatism gaining popularity in the Swedish countryside as more and more people question the beliefs and morality of the LGBTQ crowd.
Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Swedish Democrats and mayor Erixon’s partner, wrote in an Instagram post that the city would not hoist any flags of political significance on city hall.
