On March 20, RFSL Stockholm held its annual meeting. In connection with this, Lovise Brade was elected as the new president of the association. Who is Lovise and what does she particularly want to do in her role as chairperson?
Who are you, can you describe your background?
I am an activist at heart, but I have the great privilege of also working with the issues I am passionate about in my work as a teacher and researcher in gender studies. I am a parent of two children and come from Copenhagen but have lived in Stockholm for 14 years. I have previously been involved in Stockholm Pride's board and also sit on the federal board of RFSL and as chairman of a swimming club at Fredhäll.
Why did you want to become president of RFSL Sthlm?
I thought it was clear that the association needed a fresh start with new energy and leadership. As a committed member, I wanted to be involved and take responsibility for moving the association forward in a difficult time after a former employee was charged with serious crimes against members and support seekers. RFSL Stockholm is important for so many LGBTI people, with our unique meeting places and activities. I believe that I and the new board can stand for a transparent and inclusive leadership that is important for building and restoring trust within the association and with everyone we work with.
What will be your focus questions?
The trust of members and partners is the top priority going forward and that RFSL Stockholm is a safe place with a strong positive community. I think it is important that there are activities for all different parts of Stockholm's enormously diverse LGBTI community and that there are good opportunities for those who want to get involved. I want to cultivate member democracy so that more people have the opportunity to discover and develop different parts of the business and convey how fun and rewarding it is to get involved in non-profit movements.
What does the near future look like for you, what are your first priorities?
To begin with, a lot of effort is obviously going into dealing with the ongoing situation where a former employee is charged with serious crimes. What has happened has hurt many people and obviously had serious consequences for RFSL Stockholm. Just running the organization for everyone who now needs it is a challenge, while we need to work on a number of long-term measures to continue developing safety and quality. I also want to get to know all parts of the organization better. Together with the new Board, I will do everything I can to ensure that our fantastic and vital operations have the best possible conditions to stabilize and grow.
Name: Lovise Brade.
Mission/Job: Newly elected president of RFSL Stockholm, PhD in gender studies, teacher and researcher.
Age: 40 years.
Favorite book: Impossible to answer! But I have just read the book My work by the Danish feminist poet Olga Ravn and I liked it very much.
