Sölvesborg, on the east coast of Blekinge, has decided, that in the future, they will not raise the gay pride flag on the local municipal building. Not even in August, which is unofficially pride month and when the marches generally begin. Not that there’s ever been a pride march in Sölvesborg – but there will be now.
Not coincidentally, Sölvesborg municipality is run by a coalition of parties – Moderates, Christian Democrats, Sweden Democrats as well as the local parties Sölvesborg- and Lister parties.
Since 2013, the pride flag was raised during the month of August, a precedent set by the then-ruling Social Democratic party. Current City Commissioner Louise Erixson of the Sweden Democrats says that the pride flag is a political symbol and is not an official part of the municipality’s flag policy. The pride flag was an exception to the flag policy, she says, and something that undermined flag policy tradition. Erixson notes that Sölvesborg raised the pride flag for Stockholm Pride, an organisation that has positioned itself in opposition to 30% of Sölveborgs’ voters when it excluded the Sweden Democrats from its party leader debates. “A municipality that raises the pride flag therefor positions itself, if indirectly, behind this kind of undemocratic behavior,” Erixson continued ().
But that isn’t the problem, Erixson stated. “It’s an example of a problem that can come up when a municipality, which should be neutral, breaks with traditional flagging rules.”
The Moderate Party’s spokesperson for HBTQ issues, Filippa Reinfeldt, opposed the change, calling it inappropriate. “Every municipality can decide for itself if it wants to raise the Swedish flag or the municipality coat-of-arms… But, regarding the pride flag, it’s not the Moderate Party’s position and is completely inappropriate. I see the pride flag as a symbol for freedom and the right to be and to love who you want ().
Another critic is Sophia Ahlin, Moderate Party member and chair for the nearby Karlskrona Pride. SVT Blekinge reports that a pride parade in Sölvesborg is now in the works – on Friday during Pride Week (). There’s never been a pride parade in Sölvesborg before, but one is clearly needed more than ever.