Employees at the center, located in Horton Municipality in Westfold County, got a nasty surprise Friday morning.
Someone had cut down the flagpoles outside the historic center during the night.
As the Pride celebrations begin on June 8, they plan to raise rainbow-colored flags shortly.
– It's sad that people feel the need to express themselves like that, and that's what they do – or whether they want to do vandalism, says Leanne Wall, director of the Vestfold Museums, to Dagbladet on Friday evening.
He said that he has lodged a complaint with the police.
– For three consecutive years
This is not the first time that the Westfold Museums, which comprise the Thor Heyerdahl Institute and seven cultural history museums, have experienced such an experience.
– This happened in the last three years. In the past, someone has cut the cords of pride flags and destroyed them, says Valle.
Destroyed: Director of Westfold Museums thinks it sad. Photo: Private
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– The Pride movement is associated by many with a somewhat controversial position – can you understand that it evokes strong emotions?
– What is happening here, I think, is more vandalism. I don't think there was that much thought behind it. Hopefully the police will find out who it is as it will cost us and society a lot of money.
Criticism is not hate
– Unthinkable
A third of the country's pride demonstrations are organized by Fri – the Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity. The organization is behind many controversial messages about gender politics.
Pride flagging and gender identity were recently the subject of NRK's ”The Debate” after the municipality of Alessand decided not to raise the flag in schools. The Fry leader argued that children should be educated on gender identity, while the Parents' Action leader said schools should be free of politics and ideology. NRK wrote
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Dogbladet asks Valle if Westfold has discussed what museums have done to raise the Pride flag.
– I haven't researched all those things, but as a museum in Norway today, we are constantly working for a society that includes everyone, to be safe and good to live. We must distance ourselves, or partake not of this note, replies the director.
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– Couldn't understand
Eddy Robertsen, the deputy mayor in Horton, was unaware of the case when Dagbladet contacted him on Friday evening, but responded to the images:
– It's incredibly sad – for the city and the people. It saddens me that something that represents freedom for others has to be cut. What do they mean by such an action? I couldn't understand it. We hope they don't achieve anything contrary to what they want, he says.
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