GARDERMOEN (Dagbladet): – This was embarrassing and disrespectful to both party colleagues and queers, and we must expect more from people who apply for positions of trust.
Christian Haugen, FRP member and central board member of the Association for Gender and Sexuality Diversity (FRI), tells Dagbladet. He has previously been a political adviser in both the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.
On Saturday, Dagbladet was able to reveal that several key FpU members has incited two openly gay people from the same youth party in a closed Facebook group. All those involved have laid a toad on Dagbladet and apologized for what they have written in the chat.
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Nevertheless, Haugen believes that what emerges in Dagbladet’s revelation is “untrustworthy”.
– Reinforces prejudices
Among the things Haugen reacts to is that the then FpU deputy leader Andreas Brännström (28) suggests that homosexuality is a mental illness in a discussion about the Pride parade:
“Psychic-diagnosis train in front of the castle and Karl Johan we do not want any of”, Brännström writes in the chat.
– Had they known their history, they would have known that homosexuality has not been used as a diagnosis in Norway for 40 years, Haugen says to Dagbladet.
Haugen, who is himself gay, believes that such a “joke” helps to reinforce prejudice and stigma.
– At the same time, it says something about what leeway gays have in Frp if they are described as such by party colleagues, Haugen continues.
– Affects all queer
The posts in the group called “The Imperial Empire” were published in 2020. Several of the group’s nine members have, or have had, key positions in FrP’s youth party.
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It is former FpU leader Bjørn-Kristian Svendsrud and FpU member Stellan Hjerpset-Østlie who are mentioned in the chat.
The former tells Dagbladet that he has not experienced any culture in the party. It is good, but still not good enough, Haugen believes.
– It is very nice that Bjørn-Kristian says he has not faced any challenges, but if you are referred to as such by party colleagues in closed groups, it affects all queer people in the party even if individuals have positive experiences, says Haugen.
-Sad
Hjerpset-Østlie, for his part, tells Dagbladet that there is a culture in Frp and FpU. He is, like Svendsrud, gay.
The current deputy head of FpU, Ole Jakob Warlo, was also part of the chat. He tells Dagbladet that this should never have been written and are attitudes he himself does not stand for.
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– I can do nothing but apologize, he says to Dagbladet.
The current leader of FpU, Simen Velle, tells Dagbladet that he thinks it is sad that someone does not experience the party as inclusive.
– As a leader in FpU, it is important for me to say that everyone is welcome regardless of gender, religion, orientation and ethnic origin, Velle tells Dagbladet.
She also emphasizes that he has been in contact with those involved and that they have apologized.
– I think that’s good. FpU must always do what we can so that people do not experience culture in the party, and it is important for me to say that all reports of concern and warnings are taken seriously, Velle concludes.
Dagbladet has tried to get a comment from party leader Sylvi Listhaug. She will not comment on this matter.
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