LGBT pastor in Sweden: “Every sixth theology student in our program was gay”

Anna Galvinia after her ordination as a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Sweden. Photo: jauns.lv

At the end of January 2026, a Latvian woman, Anna Galvinia – who openly identifies as homosexual – was ordained as a pastor in the Lutheran Church of Sweden, Jauns.lv reports.

According to the LGBT pastor, in the Church of Sweden, belonging to the LGBT community is not regarded as a barrier to theological education or church service. “In our theology program, every sixth student was homosexual. No one is surprised by it, and it raises no questions,” she said.

Galvinia emphasized that in Sweden’s church environment, clergy members’ private lives are not a subject for discussion. “A woman pastor or a homosexual pastor is not a problem. Here, a person is received as one’s neighbor, not judged by orientation,” she said.

She added that there are no attempts within the church to pressure such people or to “correct” them. “No one interferes or tries to change anything. It is considered a normal part of church life,” the pastor noted.

It is separately noted that Galvinia’s move to Sweden was connected to personal circumstances. She came to the country for family reasons – as the partner (spouse) of a woman who at that time was already serving as a pastor in the Church of Sweden. Later their relationship ended, but Galvinia decided to remain in Sweden, continued working in the church environment and studying theology, after which she herself was ordained as a pastor in the Lutheran Church.

Comparing the situation with Latvia, Galvinia said that such an approach is still impossible there. “In Latvia’s church environment, a woman or a homosexual pastor is still perceived as something unacceptable,” she added.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Council of Europe had called for banning prayers and counseling said to “interfere” with gender transition.

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