- We have listened to the criticism that has emerged. And upon closer analysis of the board, as the ultimate head of the Swedish church Malmö, I have decided to allow the board to have a different final location than in the church room as the board has too many unanswered questions, says church pastor Per Svensson in a press release.

Can be interpreted as evil

He says it is not controversial with two gay couples in the artwork. But that there is a snake that traditionally stands for evil and that it also turns into a trans person, an interpretation may be that a trans person is evil or the devil. The Swedish Church certainly cannot stand for that, says Per Svensson.

- At first I did not realize the complexity, but upon closer reflection and careful discussion with the management, there is no alternative but to move the board from the church room, says Per Svensson.

The pastor has now decided that the painting "Paradise", which was donated to St. Paul's church and consecrated at the First Advent, will be given another final placement.

Johan Tyrberg, bishop of Lund's diocese, thinks things have gone wrong. - It would have been appropriate to make the decisions first and then hang the board. Photo: SVT

The bishop in Lund, Johan Tyrberg, himself did not want to interfere in the decision whether the board can remain, but he agrees that there are different interpretations, based on classical Christian symbols.

- I have listened to the views and the board can be interpreted as both LGBT positive and LGBT negative, Johan Tyrberg tells SVT News.

"Happened in the wrong order"

Johan Tyrberg thinks that things have happened in the wrong order.

- An application has been submitted to the County Administrative Board and internally discussed where the board should be hung. But before deciding, you have made an inauguration in a place where it has not been decided that the board should hang, says Tyrberg.

- It would have been appropriate to make the decisions first and then hang the board.