This study investigates the patterns between ideology and opinions regarding the legalization of homosexuality in the Swedish parliament and newspapers. It is based on official documents from the government published in 1944, the year when homosexuality was decriminalized, and approximately 50 newspaper articles that touch on homosexuality from the given year. The material was selected based on its relevance and specific terms were used to find it.  The parliamentary documents and articles were analysed from a queer theory perspective and the homosexual paradigm, focusing on the comparison between homosexuality and heterosexuality. This approach emphasizes the importance of not making assumption about the material based on prior research or the intentions of its creators. It views homosexuality as a social structure created form peoples need to sort in people into boxes.    The study concludes that opinions about the legalization of homosexuality varied within the parliament depending on members ideology and within ideologies themselves. Generally, the right-wing parti opposed the reform while the rest of the parties supported it, although for different reasons. Most newspapers maintained a relative neutral stance in the discussion, making it challenging to make a clear connection between their ideologies and their coverage of the topic. That is with one exception, the right-wing party, which strongly opposed the reform, and right-wing newspaper Svenska Dagbladet displayed similar opinions in sexual politics.

The purpose of the study is to examine the AIDS epidemic based on the performative actions in gay magazines in the fight against AIDS, alongside the sexual freedom movement. Furthermore, the aim is to contribute to an increased understanding and knowledge of the social and historical context and how it affected homosexual individuals as a defined risk group for AIDS. The study was conducted using qualitative content analysis to interpret articles and published letters to the editor about AIDS in the gay magazines REVOLT and Kom Ut! between 1983–1986. Central perspectives for the discussion are both the theory of “act of speech” inspired by the historian Quentin Skinner and the perspective of “performativity” inspired by the philosopher Judith Butler.  The result of the study identified five key themes: call to action, the situation for homosexual individuals, societal reactions, reflections on AIDS, and opinions about the magazine and the organization (RFSL). These themes included performative actions aimed at changing existing perceptions and norms, though sometimes ambiguously suggesting that acceptance of homosexual individuals required their conformity to societal norms. The depictions emphasized the importance of truthful information, knowledge, and community, highlighting that much prejudice against homosexual individuals stemmed from media portrayals. Media influenced public perceptions, leading to homophobia, with public reactions being based more on emotions and ignorance than rational knowledge. The widespread uncertainty about AIDS caused anxiety and fear, with the misconception that only homosexual men were at risk creating a false sense of security, leading to stigmatization and social repercussions for homosexual individuals. The fight against AIDS was closely linked with the sexual freedom movement, as both needed to change public norms based on prejudice.