Paul Holmberg on Vilandi Pride Flag Row: Why Don't We Have Equal Rights?

Makeup artist and drag activist Paul Holmberg comments on the dispute that erupted in Vilandi over displaying a pride flag. He argues that the issue goes far beyond a single symbol-it's about whether Estonia is truly a country for all its people. Holmberg emphasizes that fundamental rights cannot depend on majority approval in a democratic society.

The dispute in Vilandi over raising a pride flag has brought to the fore a question that extends far beyond a single symbol. Paul Holmberg, a makeup artist and drag activist, believes that what is actually at stake is something much larger: whether the Estonian state treats all its citizens on equal terms.

According to Holmberg, the situation is fundamentally unjust: people who fulfil the same civic duties and pay the same taxes do not enjoy the same rights. "If we pay the same taxes, then why don't we have the same rights?" he asks rhetorically, pointing out that the relationship with the state cannot be one-sided.

Fundamental rights are not a matter of voting

A central element of Holmberg's message concerns the nature of fundamental rights. In a democratic society, fundamental rights should not depend on how popular a particular group of people is, or whether the majority of society agrees with their way of life. Fundamental rights must be protected precisely when one is in the minority.

The Vilandi pride flag dispute is therefore merely one example of a broader debate taking place in Estonia about the rights and visibility of sexual minorities. It reflects tensions in society between different value systems: on one hand, more traditional views, and on the other, demands for equal treatment.

Holmberg believes that true democracy means the inclusion of everyone, including those who are minorities in society. The state's task is not to protect only the interests of the majority, but to ensure that every person can live with dignity and with full rights, regardless of who they are.