A tweet featuring a newspaper screenshot about the world’s first lesbian bishop recently went viral. However, the article is dated October 2015. One Trump-supporting account shared this Tweet that reads: “World’s first lesbian bishop calls for church to remove crosses, to install Muslim prayer space.” Since then, it has garnered over two million views. The story refers to Eva Brunne, the bishop of Stockholm from 2009 to 2019, who suggested converting the Seamen’s Church in Stockholm Harbour to accommodate sailors of all beliefs, including marking the direction of Mecca for Muslim visitors. This was during a time when thousands of refugees were arriving in Europe following the Syrian Civil War. The suggestion was politely rejected by the church’s head, Kicki Wetterberg. However, nine years after the incident, the unwarranted inflammatory wording of the post has sparked a significant backlash from people who mistakenly believe the story is recent and carry hostility towards both Muslims and lesbians. Hatred surely makes you blind, and here is the proof! The Church of Sweden is known for its LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and Eva Brunne is still serving as a senior bishop there! We believe that the inclusive practices of the Church of Sweden should be celebrated. Such openness and acceptance are crucial in creating a welcoming environment for all.
