Church to pay 50,000 kronor after blocking trans woman’s internship

Equmenia Church in Hallunda withdrew a student’s internship because she is transgender, SVT reported. The church will pay 50,000 kronor for violating Sweden’s anti-discrimination law.

The church said the issue of the student’s gender identity was “too painful and difficult” for the congregation. It accepted the demands of the Equality Ombudsman, avoiding a case in the Labour Court.

“They have responded that they acknowledge discrimination,” Elsa Haggård, a lawyer at the Equality Ombudsman, told the newspaper Mitt i. The ombudsman said the woman was subjected to direct discrimination in working life.