Swedish Greens risk funding homophobia

By Marc Shoffman • September 25, 2006 - 0:00

Sweden's gay community has expressed concern after a Green Party member affiliated to the country's Muslim Council was elected to the Swedish Parliament.

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Sweden's gay community has expressed concern after a Green Party member affiliated to the country's Muslim Council was elected to the Swedish Parliament.

Mehmet Kaplan gained a seat at last week's election but has been criticised for his connection to the Muslim Council where he is a press spokesman, after the group's chairman Helena Benaouda recently announced a desire to restrict marriage to man and woman.

The announcement counters gay marriage proposals currently before parliament,

The Green Party reportedly also want to increase funding to the group, prompting gay campaigners into action aiming to stop what they see as religious homophobia slipping into politics.

Secretary for the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association in the UK, George Broadhead, told PinkNews.co.uk: "We recognise the unequivocal support the UK Green Party gives to LGBT rights, indeed two prominent members of it - Patrick Harvie MSP and Darren Johnson, Leader of the Green Group in the London Assembly, have given us their support by becoming vice-presidents.

"However, this report involving the Swedish Green party demonstrates very clearly how the interests of gays and religionists can so easily come into conflict."

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