“Neither rights, nor knowledge existed”
When homosexuality was to be cured by psychiatry was the title of the conversation that Mian Lodalen, author, journalist and Honorary Doctor at Jönköping University (JU), and Per Bülow, Associate Professor at JU, participated in on 15 November at the School of Health and Welfare at JU. The conversation aimed to spread knowledge about mental illness and highlight how common it is in society. It was organized in connection with Psychiatry Week 2024.
The conversation attracted about 50 listeners, both in person and digitally, and was moderated by Eleonor Fransson, acting Dean at the School of Health and Welfare. The session lasted one hour and focused on the living conditions and treatments that gay people have experienced throughout history. Examples from Mian Lodalen's new book The Dancer and the Demons (Swe. Dansaren och demonerna) and real patient cases from Per Bülow's experience in psychiatry were discussed, touching on areas such as mental illness, psychiatry's activities, society's expectations, hanging and the development of living conditions and an equal society.
Eleonor Fransson, Acting Dean of the School of Health and Welfare, moderated the conversation between Per Bülow and Mian Lodalen.
The panel opened by reviewing the living conditions of gay people through the ages. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was considered a criminal offence and could be punished with prison or hard labour.
Later in the conversation, Mian and Per talk about the 1960s and 1970s and the time when people began to realize that it was not an illness. In connection with this development, psychiatry's view and approach to the issue also changed and shifted from “curing” to supporting LGBTQ people. Mian and Per believe that the reason for the new perspective was that psychiatry became more willing to accept knowledge, learn new things and follow the development of society and people.
“The topic is highly relevant”
After the conversation, several listeners had their books signed by Mian Lodalen.
The fact that LGBTQ people have been worse off than the rest of society throughout history is nothing new, even though developments have been in the right direction and there is more understanding and knowledge today. Mian believes that there are still major challenges in the area that need to be recognized and worked on.
Mian Lodalen was happy to be back at JU and the School of Health and Welfare. Above all, she saw it as a fitting opportunity with the Psychiatry Week. She believes that the subject is highly relevant, and the purpose of the week reflects many of the issues she sees as important to society and her work.
“It feels great to be back. I've been asked a lot by people I know in the Jönköping area if I've planned a visit, so it's great to be here again,” says Mian.
