Stickers

ℹ️ On the back of the stickers, you'll find some background information about them

2026

A sticker that reads **“Gay people go to heaven.”** The sticker features a blue-toned silhouette, viewed from behind, of a family where two parents are holding the hands of the child between them. Both parents have long hair. Around them, silhouettes of Suviseurat tents, a long service bench, grassy ground, and a sun setting behind a service tent, coloring the sky gold, are visible.

The process of making homosexuality a sin means that Queer laestadians may be forced to live their entire lives in the closet, suppressing their sexuality. It is harmful to label the relationships of LGBTQ+ people as sin and thereby pit love against faith, the two core values of the Bible. Nobody should need to choose between love and faith.

A sticker that reads **“Being gay is not a cross to bear, but a joy to live.”** In the center of the sticker is a black-and-white drawing of two short-haired people from behind. They are leaning close to each other and have wrapped their arms around one another. The colors of the bisexual flag are painted in a watercolor style in the background of the picture.

The sticker’s text, “Homosexuality is not a cross to bear, but a joy to live,” reminds everyone, but especially members of sexual minorities that homosexuality is equal to heterosexuality. Gay people have an equal right to express their sexuality and rejoice in their love.

The sticker features a black-and-white drawing of a pregnant person, showing only their midsection from the side. The person is holding their hands over their round belly. In the drawing, the baby inside the womb is visible through the stomach. The baby is in a fetal position inside the womb, turned head down. The baby says in a speech bubble: **“I'm gay.”** The pregnant person says in their speech bubble: **“I love you just the way you are.”** The text is followed by a heart.

The sticker challenges the assumption that homosexuality is a choice. Sexual orientation is strongly influenced by for example biological and prenatal factors. According to research, a person cannot choose their orientation or force it to conform to societal norms. The parent’s response, “I love you just the way you are,” reflects a healthy parent-child relationship, the development of which is unfortunately currently hindered and even prevented by violent doctrines that pathologize human traits.

On a light background resembling old paper, it reads **“Until death do you part.”** Above the text is a drawing of the outlines of a wedding couple. The bride on the left is holding a wedding bouquet in her hands. There are bruises on her cheek and the crook of her elbow. The hands of the groom on the right are not visible.

Conservative Laestadian teachings do not condone physical violence in intimate relationships, however domestic violence occurs in all communities. It is important to note that preaching that divorce is a sin keeps even those couples together who, for their own safety, should separate. Children and adults have the right to a family life free from violence. If you’re wondering whether there is violence in your own relationship, contact Nollalinja 116 016.

The sticker features a white text bubble resembling a message on a pink background, which reads: **“Dear youth, masturbation is not a sin.”** On the edge of the speech bubble, there is a red heart that looks like someone has added a heart reaction to the message.

This sticker is our message to the young: Masturbation is a normal part of sexual development. The Bible does not teach that it is a sin. Getting to know your own body and feeling comfortable with it teaches a person to recognize what kind of touch you need or want and from whom. Masturbation can help with this. Your body is yours, and no one else’s. Only you get to decide who touches it—or if anyone does at all.

A sticker with **“A large family is sometimes too much”** written on a dark blue background. The sticker features a line drawing of a person sitting in a wheelchair, and a person holding their hands over their face with a dark cloud drawn over their head. Additionally, there are euro symbols in the picture, as well as a medicine bottle that says “ADHD” with a couple of pills next to it.

“A large family is sometimes too much.” The sticker addresses the diversity of situations we experience in life and highlights the fact that not all families are on equal footing when it comes to the ban on contraception. In the laestadian church, the voices of families who are doing well are heard, while at the same time many families are living through difficult times. For example, people with disabilities and those suffering from mental health problems are left invisible in sermons that emphasize the bliss of life in a large family. A good God does not want to drive the most vulnerable to despair.

On a black background, the sticker features a two-part line drawing of a long-haired person's upper and lower body. The drawings show a button-up shirt with a vest over it, as well as a long, ankle-length skirt and shoes. Running across the drawings is red text that has been crossed out. It reads: **“Sisters, dress in such a way that the brothers can also get to heaven.”**

The bodies of girls and women are oversexualized, and the pulpit is used to interfere even in how they should dress. On the other hand, it is implied that only boys and men are sexual beings; even to the extent that they could not control it. In truth, a woman’s body is not dirty, and men are capable of taking responsibility for their sexual behavior. Healthy sexuality is based on consent. Faith does not require external control over sexuality.

On the white sticker, it reads: **“I am neither man nor woman.”** To the left of the text, there is a picture showing two halves of statue figures. The figures are cut vertically in half. The left half is red and depicts a classical ancient Greek sculpture of a female body. The right half is a similar blue sculpture of a shirtless male body.

Non-binary people are almost entirely ignored in Laestadianism to a point of denying their existance. People who fall outside the male–female binary can be found in history books; they have always existed. Why would we want to deny the diversity God created by forcing people into only two molds?

On the orange-toned sticker, two people are depicted as silhouettes walking in a large crowd. The first of them is a long-haired parent pushing a stroller and saying: **“Well, I at least don't know any trans people.”** In front of them stands another person, behind whom the sun shines brightly. On the outside, it looks like this person has short hair, a cap, a hoodie, and a backpack. Inside the person's outline, however, another figure is visible who has long hair and is more feminine. The figure is sitting and looking at the clouds.

Many people think that "I don't know any trans people, at least.” From this they often conclude that being trans is a truly marginal or even nonexistent phenomenon. If you do not see trans people around you they are most likely in the closet. It is a sign that the people and place around you are not safe for trans people. Due to unsafe surroundings trans people are forced to live in hiding and in a gender that is foreign to them. Of course, there are trans people among the laestadians, and it is a matter of life or death that they be allowed to live as the men, women, and non-binary people that they are.

On the purple-toned sticker, it reads: **“God created medicine, and so too trans healthcare.”** Below the text is a black-and-white picture of hands holding an open Bible.

As transgender issues have in the 2020s become a more prominent topic in sermons and haps, the denial of them has given way to the use of religion as a pretext to fuel discriminatory and destructive political rhetoric against transgender people. Belittling comments about “gender confusion” and the preaching of science-based gender-affirming treatments as sinful are examples of this phenomenon. To this we respond that God created medicine, and thus also gender-affirming treatments. Just as God created grain but does not bake bread, He created trans people so that humans might participate in creating something beautiful.

On the sticker, it reads: **“It's easy to love a small child, but will your youth be left alone?”** In the top-left corner of the sticker, there is a line drawing of a family with a child. Two parents are swinging a small child high in the air between them, holding the child by the hands. In the bottom-right corner of the sticker, there is a line drawing of a youth with their hair in a bun, sitting alone on a step, leaning on their knees with their head hanging down. In the background behind them, there is a sign that reads “trans clinic”. The background of the sticker has a faint gradient of the transgender flag colors.

From the very beginning, every child is a unique individual, a great miracle, made in God’s image. At first, it’s easy to cherish them. During adolescence, however, the child begins to grow apart more visibly as their own identity strengthens. This is part of normal human development. A parent’s role is to support their child’s growth into their own person, not to stifle it. Teens are beautiful, wonderful people who long for their parents’ support and genuine listening, even as they clumsily discover their own identities.

A parody version of the Kauhava Summer Services logo, created by an anonymous member of the sticker committee, serves as a reminder that while the Conservative Laestadian community offers a sense of safety to many, that sense of security does not extend to minorities who face discrimination, violence, and exclusion within the community. The sticker, featuring the Suviseurat emblem adorned with the colors of the rainbow and the motto “Lord, we are well here,” represents the Sticker Committee’s hope for a Laestadian community where everyone can thrive.

In the black-and-white sticker, it reads: **“Home isn't here after all.”** In the background on the left, there is a picture of a building with a cross on top. In front of the building, a couple is walking and human figures are standing in a circle. In the foreground on the right, separated from the other human figures, is a line drawing of a person holding their hand in front of their face and crying.

This is a sticker to express grief. The phrase “home is not here after all,” quoted from a hymn, captures the deep grief and loss people feel when they realize that they cannot stay in the community they grew up in and the said community is not on their side. Leaving is often a very painful process. It is not that long ago when believers have also been excluded or even excommunicated from the group against their will, some for “sins” that are no longer considered sins at all. As social animals, being excluded from our community causes us extreme pain.

On the white sticker, it reads: **“God loves trans people.”** Above the text is a black-and-white drawing of two hands reaching toward each other. The drawing resembles the famous fresco painted by Michelangelo called _The Creation of Adam_.

The Laestadian community downplays gender diversity and, citing the Bible, speak out against trans people. God created all of us, including trans people, in His own image, and loves each and every one of us. Being transgender is not a sin, and it must not lead to exclusion or spiritual violence.

The sticker reads: **“There have always been people like us.”** On the right is a drawing of a smiling elderly person using a walker. They have short gray hair and are wearing a shirt with rainbow colors. Behind the elderly person is the silhouette of a Suviseurat tent, with a sign on top that reads “resting place for the elderly”. In the background of the drawing is a faint gradient of the transgender flag colors.

The “We Have Always Been Here” sticker reminds guests at summer services that people of all ages belong to sexual and gender minorities. Speakers sometimes claim in homophobic and transphobic sermons that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is a new “ideology” or a “phase” of youth. Research shows this is not true. The laestadian community still has a lot of work to do to ensure that young and old LGBTQ+ people dare to live openly and out of the closet.

A white-background sticker, on the left side of which reads: **“Father, forgive the SRK, for they know not what they do.”** On the right edge of the sticker, there is a black pattern resembling a crack.

This sticker criticizes the leaders’ and speakers’ stances on human rights and their suppression of open discussion. The prayer uttered by Jesus on the cross encapsulates the pain and suffering that the teachings of the laestadians inflict on vulnerable people. Doctrines that demonize contraception and sexuality are the corrupt human mind’s attempt at control and these doctrines have nothing to do with the will of our good God.

The sticker has text on a purple background: **“You do not have to carry more than you can bear.”** On the right side, there is a line drawing of a pregnant, long-haired person holding their hands around their stomach with their gaze cast downward.

In the Conservative Laestadian community the following phrase loosely translated is used to justify the position on contraception:”God will not give you more to bear than you can carry.” This is understood to mean that humans need not use contraception, because God will only give as much as a person can survive. This is no true. There are mothers who end up in psychiatric wards or physical danger due to the teachings on contraception and there are mothers who have to give up their children when they run out of strength. Protecting humanity is not contrary to God's will.

2025

Ei tarvitse kantaa enemmän kuin jaksat kantaa tarra

Kielteisen ehkäisykannan tukena käytetään lausahdusta ”kenellekään ei anneta enempää kuin jaksaa kantaa”. Tällä viitataan siihen, että ihmisen ei tarvitse ehkäistä, sillä Jumala antaa voimien mukaan kannettavaa. Tämä ei ole totta - on äitejä, jotka joutuvat tuon opin takia psykiatrisille osastoille tai fyysiseen hengenvaaraan ja niitä, jotka joutuvat luopumaan lapsistaan, kun voimat loppuvat. Ihmisyyden suojeleminen ehkäisyllä ei ole Jumalan tahdon vastaista.

Taivaassa minulla on sinut seuramerkki -tarra

Anonyymi tarratoimikuntalainen teki sateenkaariversion Lopen Suviseurojen seuramerkistä. Sekä virallisiin merkkeihin että meidän merkkiimme on painettu Suviseurojen tunnuslause ”Taivaassa minulla on sinut” (Ps.73:25). Meidän versiossa merkkiä koristavat myös sateenkaaren värit, jotka muistuttavat seuravieraita seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöjen olemassaolosta ja oikeuksista.

Kielteinen opetus ehkäisystä ajaa erityisesti naisia tilanteeseen, jossa toisessa vaakakupissa on joustamaton ehkäisyopetus ja toisessa vanhempien jaksaminen ja lasten hyvinvointi. Raamattu ei kiellä ehkäisyn käyttämistä. Ehkäisy on osa lääketieteen kehitystä samoin kuin vaikka syöpähoidot - näiden elämää suojelevien keksintöjen voidaan ajatella olevan myös Jumalan ihmisille antaman viisauden tulos.

Lopen Suviseurojen tunnuslause ”Taivaassa minulla on sinut” (Ps.73:25) symboloi tässä tarrassa sitä surua, jota uskovaiset sateenkaari-ihmiset kokevat, kun heidät revitään erilleen ja heidän rakkautensa synnillistetään toisten uskovaisten toimesta. Ihminen ei saisi asettua omassa itsevarmuudessaan ja jyrkkyydessään Jumalan paikalle ja unohtaa rakkauden pyhyyttä ja suuruutta.

”Anna heille enkeleitä” on ote tutusta iltarukouksesta. Tällä rukouksella pyydämme lestadiolaisessa yhteisössä elävien transihmisten ympärille turvallisia matkaystäviä, jotka näkevät heidän sukupuolensa oikein ja tukevat tarvittaessa transprosessissa. Nämä arjen enkelit ovat korvaamattoman tärkeitä sukupuolivähemmistöön kuuluville.

Lestadiolaisyhteisössä häivytetään sukupuolen moninaisuuteen liittyviä teemoja ja Raamatun pohjalta puhutaan transihmisyyttä vastaan. Jumala on luonut meidät kaikki, myös transihmiset, omaksi kuvakseen ja rakastaa meistä jokaista. Niin kuin Jumala loi viljan muttei valmista leipää, loi hän transihmiset, jotta ihminen voisi osallistua luomaan jotain kaunista. Transihmisyys ei siis ole synti, eikä se saa johtaa ulossulkemiseen tai hengelliseen väkivaltaan.

56-68 prosenttia 15-25 vuotiaista on ajatellut itsemurhaa tarra

Lestadiolaisyhteisössä sukupuolen moninaisuutta häivytetään puhumalla mm. ”sukupuolihämmennyksestä” ja suhtautuminen sukupuolen korjaamiseen on kielteinen. Tällainen suhtauminen lisää transihmisten pahoinvointia ja itsemurha-ajatuksia. Perheen tuki ja sukupuolenkorjaushoidot auttavat tutkitusti. Vanhempi, on elintärkeää, että transnuori saa ehdottoman tukesi!

Varjele herran laumassa, siellä mä olen turvassa tarra

Tässä tarrassa sarjakuvapiirtäjä David Haywardin (@nakedpastor) osuva kuva yhdistyy tuttuun iltalauluun. Raamatun oppeihin nojaavan vanhoillislestadiolaisen uskonyhteisön tulisi olla turvallinen paikka vähemmistöille - niille, joiden puolelle Jeesus säännönmukaisesti asettui. Sen sijaan yhä tänäkin päivänä verbaaliset kivet lentävät kohti vähemmistöjä, jos he ”toteuttavat” homouttaan tai elävät todeksi sukupuoltaan. Onneksi Jeesus pysyy sateenkaarilampaidensa rinnalla.

”Älä suojele lasta tiedolta” -tarra on vastalause vanhoillislestadiolaisuudessa yleistyneeseen puhetapaan, jolla pyritään demonisoimaan koulussa annettavaa ja tutkittuun tietoon perustuvaa seksuaalikasvatusta. Oikea, ikätasoinen tieto moninaisuudesta, turvataidoista, nautinnosta ja ehkäisystä on YK:n mukaan jokaiselle lapselle ja nuorelle kuuluva oikeus. Seksuaalikasvatus on myös tärkeä turvallisuuskysymys, ei lasten ja nuorten ”hämmentämistä”.

”Antakaa uskovaisten homojen uskoa” -tarra pureutuu siihen kivuliaaseen ristiriitaan, jota lestadiolaiset homoseksuaalit kokevat, kun heitä painostetaan luopumaan joko uskosta tai rakkaudesta. On vastuutonta, että vanhoillislestadiolaisessa liikkeessä nämä kaksi Raamatun ydinarvoa asetetaan vastakkain seksuaalivähemmistöjen kohdalla. Tarra muistuttaa, ettei kenenkään pitäisi joutua valitsemaan uskon ja rakkauden välillä.

Lestadiolainen liike opettaa, että seksuaalisuus kuuluu vain avioliittoon. Tämä tarkoittaa, että jo lapsille ja nuorille opetetaan itsetyydytyksen olevan syntiä, vaikka Raamattu ei niin opeta. Oppi on ristiriidassa myös YK:n lasten oikeuksien kanssa - oman kehon tutkiminen ja itsetyydytys kuuluvat lasten ja nuorten ikätasoiseen kehitykseen. Aikuisetkin tuottavat nautintoa itselleen ja se on tärkeä osa oman kehon omistajuutta.

”Isä, anna SRK:lle anteeksi, sillä he eivät tiedä, mitä tekevät” -tarra kritisoi liikkeen vallanpitäjien ihmisoikeuslinjauksia sekä avoimen keskustelun tukahduttamista. Jeesuksen ristillä lausumaan rukoukseen kiteytyy kipu ja tuska, jota vanhoillislestadiolaisen liikkeen opit aiheuttavat haavoittuvassa asemassa oleville ihmisille. Vähemmistöjä syrjivät sekä ehkäisyä ja seksuaalisuutta synnillistävät opit ovat turmeltuneen ihmisluonnon pyrkimystä kontrolliin eikä niillä ole mitään tekemistä hyvän Jumalan kanssa.

”Meitä on ollut aina” -tarra muistuttaa seuravieraita siitä, että seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöihin kuuluu kaikenikäisiä ihmisiä. Homo- ja transfobisissa saarnoissa väitetään toisinaan, että sateenkaari-ihmisissä on kyse uudesta ”ideologiasta” tai nuoruuden ”vaiheesta”. Tämä ei tutkitustikaan pidä paikkaansa. Lestadiolaisyhteisöllä on vielä paljon työnsarkaa tehtävänä, jotta nuoret ja vanhat sateenkaari-ihmiset uskaltaisivat elää vapaasti ulkona kaapista.