Danish minister fears rising intolerance, calls for new study on attitudes to Muslims and LGBT+ people

Danish Minister for Gender Equality Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen expressed concern Saturday during Copenhagen's Pride parade, warning of a growing intolerance toward homosexuality in Denmark, especially among young Muslims. She fears the country is moving toward a less tolerant society.

Halsboe-Jørgensen plans to initiate a new study on attitudes toward homosexuality and LGBT+ individuals in Denmark. The most recent survey on the topic dates back to 2015. The minister believes the age of the existing data obscures the problem's current scope. "First and foremost, we must know the extent of the problem to be able to solve it, and so that it cannot be dismissed as something that does not exist in our free and equal country," she stated.

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The belief I have held for many years, that it will naturally move to a more progressive place, does not seem to fit with reality. I fear we are heading towards a more intolerant place.

The minister is particularly worried about a negative trend among younger men, both within Muslim communities and more broadly across Denmark. "We can hear anecdotally that something is brewing," she said. "In addition to looking at the clear problem in Muslim communities, we must also consider it when it concerns young men broadly across Denmark."

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First and foremost, we must know the extent of the problem to be able to solve it, and so that it cannot be dismissed as something that does not exist in our free and equal country.

Halsboe-Jørgensen also pointed to foreign interference, citing Danish and European intelligence services that report significant efforts by foreign actors, particularly Russia, to foster intolerance via social media. These actors, she explained, exploit gender and sexuality as polarizing topics, sometimes linking homosexuality to pedophilia. She identified the Islamic organization Hizb ut-Tahrir as a prominent force in Denmark promoting reduced tolerance, noting their recent campaign targeting young Muslims entering higher education.

The minister hopes to have the results of the new study available by early 2027. The article also referenced a recent attack at Berlin Pride, where a car plowed into a crowd, killing one woman and injuring 29 others, an incident German authorities are investigating as Islamist terrorism.

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We can hear anecdotally that something is brewing. In addition to looking at the clear problem in Muslim communities, we must also consider it when it concerns young men broadly across Denmark.