Rings for the Rainbow Family: Religious Opposition to the Introduction of Same-Sex Marriage in Sweden

Abstract

When Sweden introduced same-sex marriage in 2009, this change in legislation was preceded by a well-organized, professional campaign of an alliance of various religious leaders. Since political support for a gender neutral marriage law was substantial and public opinion in favor, the question that is raised in this article is: what was at stake for the Christian opposition in its defiance of same-sex marriage? It is argued that through their “Protect Marriage” initiative, the marginal “free churches” confidently claimed a space for themselves in the Church of Sweden dominated religious landscape and the liberal values dominated political landscape. Paradoxically, it was precisely the overwhelmingly mocking, derogatory responses to the campaign which allowed conservative Christians to firmly position themselves in the debate.