Stockholm Deputy Mayor Appears as Drag Queen to Promote Tolerance Campaign
Sporting a summer dress, blonde Marilyn-style hair, and red lipstick, Stockholm's Deputy Mayor Jan Jönsson transformed into a drag queen for a meeting with children as part of a campaign against 'intolerance and populism' that is launching this week, according to 7sur7.
"Stories are not dangerous to children. Nor are drag queens. But populism and intolerance are dangerous, both for children and for adults," the official stated.
Liberal Party member Jan Jönsson has initiated a campaign against intolerance. His drag queen persona is instrumental in conveying his message of support for this movement. Of late, drag queen reading sessions for children in libraries have stirred discussions.
"I make myself a sort of canvas for drag artists so as to say that everyone should have freedom of expression," he confessed.
The Deputy Mayor explained that he launched the campaign in response to criticism from the Sweden Democrats (far-right) towards drag queens reading to children in libraries or during tours of the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. Such activities have been ongoing in the country since 2017.
To endorse this initiative, Jan Jönsson has also read to children while in his drag persona.
"Some political parties are trying to limit the freedoms of others, particularly drag queens. I hope with this statement others can say: 'OK, enough.' Sweden should be a free country," the official added.
Earlier, the Sweden Democrats had strongly opposed such initiatives in libraries and voiced intense criticism. In a television debate at the beginning of May, Sweden Democratic Party leader Jimmie Åkesson called it 'insane' that taxpayers' money was being spent on drag queens reading to children. Specifically, he attacked an artist known as 'Shameless Whinehore,' who renamed herself 'Miss Shameless' during readings.
In a protest video on Twitter, Jan Jönsson appears elegantly dressed, with a blonde bouffant wig, false eyelashes, a light-blue floral dress, and heels. Sitting on a chair surrounded by children on the floor, he reads an excerpt from 'The Brothers Lionheart,' a novel by famous Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren.
It is worth noting that June is recognised as Pride Month and a time of advocating for LGBT+ rights in many countries around the world.