Norwegian Conservatives defend the use of the Pride flag against proposed ban in schools

The Norwegian Christian People's Party wants to ban the Pride flag in public schools. The Conservative Party wants to protect the rainbow flag.

For Americans trying to get to grips with the Norwegian party landscape the Norwegian right wing may be more than a little confusing.

At the moment there are no less than four parties that might be designated as "conservative": The Conservative Party (Høyre, 20% in polls), the Christian People's Party (KrF, 3.3%) and The Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet, 20%) are all considered right wing. There is also the Center Party (Senterpartiet, 6.7%), which pretends to be centrist, but is in fact a right wing, rural, populist party.

Supporters of the centrist Conservative Party would normally fit well within the Democratic Party in the US. The Progress Party is a populist anti-immigrant party, but unlike the MAGA movement it is in support of public social welfare (i.e. a strong state).

As far as LGBTQ issues go, they have all claimed that they are pro-LGBTQ, to the point of leaders taking part in Pride parades.

The Christian People's Party moves to the right

The Christian People's Party have, however, for the last few years been gradually moving from the center to the more extreme right and has now adapted what can only be seen as an explicit anti-LGBTQ standpoint.

The party is now in support of banning the use of the Pride flag in public schools. Note that nearly all Norwegian schools are publicly owned.

David Hansen, KrF's first candidate for parliament in Østfold, protested, calling this a "Viktor Orban"-policy. He is right. KrF is clearly trying to gain support by appealing to traditionalist conformity and fear of those outside the cis/het norm, just like Orban.

Dag-Inge Ulstein is moving the Christian People's Party to the right. (Photo: Frilansering CC)

In the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten KrF's leader, Dag-Inge Ulstein, make use of an old right wing populist trick, presenting the Norwegian flag as a symbol uniting all the people of Norway. In other words: There is no need for a Pride flag, which only causes confusion and uncertainty.

He tries to connect the Pride flag to the main Norwegian LGBTQ-organization Fri, which is supporting "surrogacy, liberalization of gender reassignment and abolition of the sex purchase law." Since Fri is political, the flag becomes political, as Ulstein sees it.

In other words: The Norwegian flag is not political, because it apparently represents values KrF, a political party, can stand behind, while the Pride flag should be banned in schools, because it is political.

Politics are political, and fighting for social inclusion of marginalized groups has been the explicit goal of all Norwegian governments for decades.

The last time a party tried to appeal to some kind of national unity "outside politics" in Norway, was Vidkun Quisling's National Unity Party (Nasjonal samling) in the 1930s. Quisling is not a good role model for any democratic party.

Politicians support the use of the rainbow flag

As far as we can see, representatives for most of the other Norwegian parties have criticized KrF for this move.

Alexander Papas of the Socialist Left Party says:

"Removing the pride flag from schoolyards is not creating peace. It is giving in to the forces that want to make queer people invisible – and who would rather see them as non-existent."

Julianne Ferskaug of the Liberals says:

"In many countries we are now seeing how human rights are being undermined, and queer people are being used as scapegoats in a larger political game. Making the safety of queer youth a political issue is harmful and protects no one."

Frøya Skjold of the Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) also supports the use of the flag in schools.

Anti-LGBTQ tendencies

We have not found a response to the proposal from the populist Progress Party yet, but last year local representatives united with the Marxist Red Party (Rødt) in order to ban the use of the Pride flag in Oslo. The Progress Party has supported a ban of the public use of the Pride flag in several municipalities.

The Center Party's MP Jenny Klinge, a Norwegian TERF, has promoted policies similar to the one of KrF. However, the party officially supports "initiatives and plans aimed at increasing acceptance of LGBT+ people in all communities and strengthening efforts against hate crime."

Conservative support of the Pride flag

For Americans it might be interesting to see how Tina Bru, deputy leader of the Conservative Party, addresses the KrF proposal.

Tina Bru (Photo: Hans Kristian Thorbjørnsen CC)

Bru argues that children do not need protection from love and tolerance but rather from intolerance, hatred, and rhetoric that fuels discriminatory attitudes.

She brings up the 2022 homophobic and transphobic terrorist attack in Oslo, as well as other incidents of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals, including attacks, bullying, and exclusion faced by queer children and teenagers in Norway.

She emphasizes the importance of schools being safe spaces for all students, especially those who may already feel marginalized.

Bru argues that banning the Pride flag sends a harmful message to children who have same-sex parents or are struggling with their identity.

She refutes claims that exposure to LGBTQ+ themes would influence children’s sexual orientation, stressing that inclusion fosters respect rather than changes identity:

"No one becomes queer because they see a rainbow flag waving. No one becomes queer from learning that we should treat everyone with respect. No one becomes queer from including queer love in the community."

She expresses frustration that the same debate surfaces every year, with opponents spreading conspiracy theories about the Pride movement. She maintains that the flag represents freedom, safety, and the right to love without fear:

"It is not an option for my children to grow up in a society where we were unable to stand against the forces that want to hide all colors."

Americans conservatives could learn a lot from the real conservatives of Norway.