The Green Party Wants to Open Rainbow House to Combat 'Right-Nationalist Forces'

The Green Party wants Stockholm to have a municipally funded Rainbow House – a permanent meeting place for LGBTQI people. The proposal is being highlighted as a campaign promise ahead of the municipal election, and the party wants the initiative to become a long-term commitment for the city.

According to the Green Party, the Rainbow House should be developed in close cooperation with the LGBTQI community and serve as an open meeting place without any obligation to consume. The idea is that the house will offer, among other things, social activities, lectures, cultural events, support services, and various activities for both young and old. Inspiration is drawn from Gothenburg, where a similar Rainbow House already exists.

The party’s group leader in Stockholm City Hall, Åsa Lindhagen (MP), says the need for such a meeting place is great and points to reports that negative attitudes towards LGBTQI people have increased in recent years. According to the Green Party, the Rainbow House should function as a safe space where people can meet, network, and feel a sense of community.

“We see right-nationalist forces gaining ground in Sweden and throughout Europe. They want to remove rainbow flags and ban Pride parades,” says Åsa Lindhagen (MP), City Commissioner for Climate and Environment, to Mitt i.

The proposal means that the city should finance the initiative long-term instead of relying on temporary project grants or volunteer initiatives. The Green Party emphasizes that the house should be developed together with the nonprofits and organizations that are already working on LGBTQI issues in Stockholm.

Rainbow-Colored Benches

This proposal is part of the party’s election platform ahead of the autumn municipal election. In recent months, the Green Party has also presented several other proposals related to LGBTQI issues, including more rainbow-colored benches and crosswalks, as well as continued investment in the city’s work with inclusion and equality.

Whether the Green Party will gain support remains to be seen. The proposal requires political backing in the City of Stockholm, and a funding model or cost calculation has not yet been presented.