In the final days of August, I attended a training course held in the charming city of Malmö (Sweden). During my stay, I got to explore the local queer culture, both by visiting various cultural spots and by simply exploring the city. Granted, the most engaging part was analysing the difference between existing as a queer person in Sweden and doing so in Moldova. This article will explore some of the key differences I’ve noticed, as well as consider how Sweden’s experiences can serve as a lesson to foster positive change here.
General overview
Upon first setting foot on Sweden’s territory, I was almost instantly blown away by the amount of rainbow on my way. The first thing I saw were the two rainbow benches at the bus stop just outside the city metro. Rainbow flags, rainbow signs, rainbow stickers, and other rainbow things kept showing up in very noticeable spots, even in the heart of the city which naturally had a lot of people capable of spotting them. It felt welcoming to see that it all stood there intact and wasn’t garnering any loud, negative attention, the way it likely would in Moldova. It just existed in a very casual way.
From my personal experience (also supported by the similar experiences of other people), it felt like I was less noticeable in a negative way. I didn’t feel like I was trying to turn invisible while walking the streets, and I felt comfortable and safe enough wearing rainbow-coloured accessories that were easily noticeable.
RFSL: Sweden’s GenderDoc-M
RFSL stands for “The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights”. It is a non-profit organisation founded in 1950, which makes it one of the oldest LGBTQ+ organisations in the world. RFSL’s vision is “an equal world where all LGBTQI people’s human rights are respected and nobody is left out”. The organisation has partnerships with other queer organisations from around the world, which includes Moldova.
Outside of legal work, RFSL also hosts weekly support groups, events, and activities for various minority groups, including transgender people, queer people of age, queer parents, parents of queer children, and others.
The State Library of Malmo
Malmö’s State Library was incredibly welcoming to us, establishing itself as an openly queer-friendly space. There was a huge Pride flag hanging above the main reception, and even a section of the library dedicated exclusively to queer literature. The library also happens to serve as a space for hosting events centered around queer culture, such as drag performances and queer photography exhibitions.
The most outstanding aspect, in my opinion, happened to be a club for young people (aged 16-25) named Queer-ish. It offered not just books, but also a safe and inclusive space for its members to meet up, do homework, watch movies, and do arts and crafts, for which it provided a whole range of artistic supplies.
No place or country is perfect. During the course of the library tour, as part of the learning process, we were made aware of the struggles the library has to face as an openly queer-inclusive space. Occasionally, there are people who demand that the Pride flag be taken down, who complain about the queer events, or even ask for the personal information of queer artists that participate in the events hosted by the library. However, this does not prevent the library from resuming its function as an open and inclusive space that welcomes all of its members regardless of their sex, gender, race, nationality, or sexuality.
Bookstores and queerness
Malmö is home to Page28, which currently is Sweden’s only LGBTQ+ bookstore. It offers a wide selection of queer literature, comics, games, and accessories, and also serves as a venue for various queer events, which include book clubs, art exhibitions, and many others.
The Science Fiction Bokhandeln bookstore also offers a decent amount of options for queer literature, all of which are highlighted with a special Pride stamp so that readers looking for a queer book to buy could easily spot them.
According to ILGA Europe’s Rainbow Map 2026, Sweden stands at 68% acceptance, which is 30% ahead of Moldova (38%). Although Moldova has made significant progress in recent years (38% against 14% acceptance in 2016), there is still a lot to be fought for, both in terms of supporting the legal rights of LGBTQ+ people and their acceptance in society.
