Last Friday, BLT revealed that the Pride flag will no longer be hoisted at the municipal hall in Sölvesborg, as a result of Samstyret's new flag policy. The municipal council Louise Erixon (SD) then pointed out that flagging should take place in a traditional way on municipal buildings, with the municipal flag and the Swedish flag.
This means that the Pride flag, which has been hoisted every year since 2013, will no longer be hoisted on municipal buildings in Sölvesborg.
According to the former municipal council Heléne Björklund (S), the Pride flag is the only flag in addition to the Sweden flag and the state arms hoisted on municipal rods.
But Louise Erixon (SD) says in an interview in P1 Morning that the debate has been distorted.
- The team has never talked about the Pride flag. The people who have made this a rainbow flag are the media, not us. You cannot apply opinions to someone else, and then they have no opportunity to defend themselves. We stand up for all people's equal value, says Louise Erixon to P1 Morning.
"Flags with unifying flags"One of the points in the Samstyret's action program of 220 points is: “ A new policy for the municipality's flagging must be decided. A revision of the municipality's flag regulations regarding the municipality's bars and buildings shall be made with the aim of returning to a more traditional approach ”.
Louise Erixon explains why that point was raised.
- We needed to clarify what to flag and why. Then we have taken the position that it is better that a municipality, a government authority, is neutral. Does not take political or opinion positions without flags with unifying flags that affect everyone, whether you are heterosexual, LGBTQ or where you come from - all citizens of Sweden. It is the Swedish flag and the municipal government arms that we intend to flag with.
The decision that specifically means that the Pride flag will no longer be hoisted at the City Hall has met with strong protests.