- It was a small demonstration of twelve people who did not think they had any significance.
They probably thought it was a failure, took a picture and went home.
But if they had not done this, we would not have been able to march 500,000 today and I would not have married my husband, says Jonas Gardell.
The demonstration took place in 1971 in Örebro and was organized by the local association Gay Power Club.
The young protesters had been inspired by the Gay Liberation movement in New York.
At the same time, homosexuality in Sweden was classified as a disease and LGBTQ people were in principle invisible.
SVT shows the same year a feature about a doctor in Bollnäs who treats homosexuals with electric shocks to reverse them and the reporter states that "the result is successful" when the men then started relationships with women.
In the video above, you can, among other things, see a piece from the old SVT feature.
"Liberation begins with the courage of an individual"
Jonas Gardell's forthcoming novel takes place in both the 19th and 1970s and is based on stories from real people.
With research and interviews with homosexuals who are still alive, he has delved deep into history.
- I believe that all liberation begins with an individual's personal courage.
Openness is the only way forward, says Jonas Gardell.
A happier year
is published by Norstedts 9 September 2021.
In the video above, Jonas Gardell tells how the Gay Power Club paved the way for today's pride movement.