The deputy mayor of Stockholm read stories to children dressed as a drag queen. He was protesting against the "populism" that wants to ban such events in the country
The Swedish politician and deputy mayor of Stockholm spoke out against "populism" and anti-LGBT+ rhetoric in a somewhat unconventional, but all the more significant, way. He dressed up as a drag queen and read fairy tales to children at the drag queen story hour. This was a reaction to the activities of the far right, which protests against such events in Stockholm libraries.
"Lately we have seen that the situation of LGBTQ people in general is getting worse, but the situation of trans people in particular is getting worse. But I think the right-wing movement is trying to use these drag queen story hours to get the whole LGBTQ community," Jönnson told Euronews.
"We also see the Sweden Democrats (a nationalist political party, ed.) trying to ban these drag readings in public libraries at the municipal level. Most of this is happening in the south of Sweden, but we also have some examples here in the north."
Homophobic radicalization from the US
Drag queen story hours have been held in Stockholm public libraries since 2017. As Jönnsen says, at the time , "no one objected to it." But that changed last fall, when far-right troublemakers began disrupting the events.
"This is a very disturbing movement in Swedish society," Jönnson went on to say. "I am very worried that this type of movement will come from the United States. And the law will not only ban this cultural expression, but even more from our freedom. And that's why I wanted to do my own drag protest."
Jönnson shared a video on Twitter that includes a short clip of him reading to children and his statement. In it , he mentions that "fairy tales are not dangerous for children... Neither are drag queens. On the contrary, populism and intolerance have shattered the dreams of many individuals throughout history."
Drag transformation
Jönnsen had never tried drag before, so he enlisted the help of experienced drag performer Admira Thunderpussy, winner of the first series of Sweden's Drag Race Sverige. The 45-year-old man with glasses, receding hair and a sober jacket, as the politician can be seen on his campaign posters, has become an impressive woman with a mesmerising gaze, sweet red lips and a fluffy blonde wig under Admira's hands.
"I found that being in drag really hurts because you have to wear a corset, and it took two hours just to apply the make-up. I couldn't eat or drink or go to the toilet for six hours!" A bit of that "suffering" paid off though, because the result was simply magnificent. But better than the look itself was the message that Jönnsen so symbolically conveyed.
"I consider myself more of a canvas that Admira Thunderpussy used to materialize her art. But you don't have to dress in drag to express your support. It can mean even more if you talk to your neighbors and people at work and make it clear that you support freedom of expression."
