Liberal Sweden: Loosing its nerve?

Embracing the new is something Swedes like to think they're good at. Rightly or wrongly, this part of the world as long been associated with sexual freedoms but its also known to be at the vanguard of social legislation equating de-facto relationships and marriage under the law, promoting gender equality, and safeguarding the rights of children as unique from their parents.   But there are still some aspects of personal sexual and romantic freedoms that are controversial for some - Radio Sweden's Bill Schiller reports on the state of gay and lesbian rights in Sweden.

A duet with popular Swedish lesbian singer and song writer, Eva Dahlgren and Swedish gay actor and singer, Rikard Wolf... two of the most prominent celebrities in the world of Swedish rainbow culture. A song about dreams, romance and love.

The organized Swedish movement for lesbians, gays, and transgenders stretches back over a half a century when homosexual relations were first legalized -- but it's only in the last decade or so that cultural personalties have added their voices and visibility -- recieving very positive publicity in the Swedish media.

Legislation-wise, Sweden is close to the international top -- with legal partnership, equal age of consent, the constitutional anti-discrimination law finally stretched to cover rainbow rights after year's-long debate, and the right to adopt children -- both here and from abroad.

The last election has doubled the number of open homosexual parliamentarians to the present 10 -- including the first lesbian -- and the new center-right government boasts of having Sweden's first openly gay and bi-sexual ministers.

Other milestones in recent years -- the creation of rainbow groups in the Swedish police and military -- marching in uniform in Pride parades and LGBT that is lesbian, gay bisxual and transgenders among university students:

Swedish immigration policy claims the door is open to lesbians and gays persecuted in their home countries, and asylum has been granted at times, but Sweden is also notorious for expelling refugees from Iran -- despite the death penalty there.

Also on the dark side of that Swedish rainbow, a growing number of right-wing, anti-immigrant groups proudly homophobic ... increasing violence from neo nazis and a rising number of hate crimes reported to the police

Homophobia remains strong in Swedish sports ... and some voices in the Luthern church are loudly deragatory.

The church has finally agreed to a blessing of the gay partnership service - but is still split on having rainbow weddings at the alter.

Among the brighter colors of that rainbow - a rekindled Swedish interest in the battles carried out by colleages on those bloodied barricades abroad - especially nearby on the opposite side of the Baltic Sea.

In fact, the Swedish international assistance agency has just announced an action plan to beef up support for rainbow rights in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe - insisting that this Nordic nation has to speak out against discrimination, harassment, imprisonment and the execution of homosexuals - adding that intolerance and persecution of any minority block everyones road to democracy, prosperity and diversity.

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