Kejne affair
Encyclopedia
The Kejne affair was a political affair
in Sweden
in the 1950s.
In 1948, Karl-Erik Kejne (1913-60), a pastor
of the town mission, publicly accused groups of gay
men
of threatening him and making attempts on his life. This occurred after he had tried to put an end to gay
prostitution
in Stockholm
, Sweden
.
This theme was quickly picked up by several evening papers, and reached the proportions of a witch-hunt
. There was widespread belief in Kejne's conspiracy theory
about a "homosexual mafia", supposedly controlling several criminal gangs of gay men.
Kejne accused the attorney of corruption, specifically by order of cabinet minister Nils Quensel. Kejne claimed that Quensel was involved in the groups himself. Kejne also claimed that Quensel ordered the police to send infiltrators posing as gay men to his house, in order to prove that Kejne was himself gay
. Homosexuality
had been legalized in Sweden in 1944, but was still not socially accepted in the 1950s.
A commission
was formed to address these issues. In 1951, when they could not free Quensel from all charges, he chose to resign as a cabinet minister.
The author Vilhelm Moberg
wrote at length about the Kejne affair, and also brought the Haijby affair
to public knowledge.
Affair
Affair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political affair:...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in the 1950s.
In 1948, Karl-Erik Kejne (1913-60), a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the town mission, publicly accused groups of gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
men
Man
The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole...
of threatening him and making attempts on his life. This occurred after he had tried to put an end to gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
This theme was quickly picked up by several evening papers, and reached the proportions of a witch-hunt
Witch-hunt
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials...
. There was widespread belief in Kejne's conspiracy theory
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
about a "homosexual mafia", supposedly controlling several criminal gangs of gay men.
Kejne accused the attorney of corruption, specifically by order of cabinet minister Nils Quensel. Kejne claimed that Quensel was involved in the groups himself. Kejne also claimed that Quensel ordered the police to send infiltrators posing as gay men to his house, in order to prove that Kejne was himself gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
. Homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
had been legalized in Sweden in 1944, but was still not socially accepted in the 1950s.
A commission
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
was formed to address these issues. In 1951, when they could not free Quensel from all charges, he chose to resign as a cabinet minister.
The author Vilhelm Moberg
Vilhelm Moberg
Karl Artur Vilhelm Moberg was a Swedish author and historian, most commonly associated with his four novels known as The Emigrants Series.-Early life:...
wrote at length about the Kejne affair, and also brought the Haijby affair
Haijby affair
The Haijby affair was a political affair in Sweden in the 1950s, involving the conviction and imprisonment of Kurt Haijby for blackmail of King Gustaf V.- Background :...
to public knowledge.