Wow. That’s a shame. I always pictured Sweden to be more liberal. I live in the UK & I’d say 90% of people here in 2019 don’t give a shit about people being gay. Most families even have an LGBT member. Of course homophobia still exists & I’ve lived under a conservative government for 9 years but I don’t feel like I have to fit in & I don’t want to. We have a population of around 65 million so I guess huge multiculturalism plays into acceptance. Hopefully it changes in the mind of Swedes in the future.
Don't get me wrong. The majority of people in Sweden (as far as I know and have been treated, as an out gay man), are
very gay-accepting, at least 50 and under and then most who are older. There's a large significant gay-friendly presence in mass media. All but one political party openly supports gay equality (even the Christian Democrats, who opposed gay marriage).
The difference in Swedish culture is only self-censorship because there is a powerful pull to be felt as part of the larger social group. Sweden has only become openly diverse in the last 30 years ago. Private lives were private and public appearance is where one wants to see much of the same. But it's hard to change the culture. The Swedish kids dress more alike than anywhere I've ever been. It's a very subtle thing that we are not every formally taught but something one just feels. It's easier to go along with the consensus publicly and be really different in private.
I teach at a major university in Sweden and have taught in other countries (Germany, Denmark, US). I was one of three openly gay people in a very large department. The other two (both lesbians) have left, and two gay men who were out to me were closeted at work. I am now the only one who is out at work. And it's almost 2020.
