The seminar will take place on Tuesday. The initiators are Jan Jönsson, councilor in Stockholm and member of The Liberals' party board, together with the Riksdag's hbtqi network, the Theater Group Among Dragons and Drag Queens, and Civil Rights Defenders.
The agenda includes the hostile reactions that the story hours have met when organized for children at libraries, with threats and right-wing extremist harassment in the wake.
We have unfortunately seen over the past two years that attempts have been made to prevent these story hours. As a result, it has also become more accepted among some people to express hatred and threats against drag artists, says Jan Jönsson.
But the question is really bigger, because it ultimately concerns the right to free expression and the right to free culture in Sweden, he continues.
Questioned by SD
Among Dragons and Drag Queens launched their story concept in 2017. According to director Petter Wallenberg, the activity has been questioned or attacked in various ways since 2019, including threats from neo-Nazis.
In recent years, political representatives have directed criticism against the performance type.
Several local SD politicians have tried to stop the arrangements at municipal libraries, while party leaders such as Jimmie Åkesson and Björn Söder have condemned the phenomenon.
Even their affiliated communication channel Riks has been very active in spreading hate against this cultural expression and these cultural workers, so it's clear that it's a marking and a criticism of the Sweden Democrats, says Jan Jönsson.
But there are many others in the general public who also latch on to this. It has not least been experienced by library staff. In the beginning, it was not controversial and it was always fully booked. Nowadays, you have to bring in security guards.
"No secret"
That his own party collaborates with SD in the Riksdag does not see Jönsson as an obstacle.
This cooperation is problematic, I have thought all the time, and it's no secret. But then you have to remember that the government has no cooperation at all with the Sweden Democrats on hbtq issues.
Will any SD members attend the seminar?
I don't actually know, but they are of course welcome like everyone else who registers.
TT has sought out the Sweden Democrats, who have not responded.
