Political Activism
On several occasions, Bard has caused much controversy by appearing on Swedish national TV and radio, and writing articles, promoting the use of narcotic substances and a liberalisation of the stringent Swedish drug laws. He has also been a political activist for the rights of sex workers and sexual minorities. A self-proclaimed bisexual libertine, Bard lived in a much-publicized relationship in the 1990s with Swedish anthropologist and writer Petra Östergren. Bard has also been a member of both the Swedish Liberal People's Party and its youth wing, the Liberal Youth of Sweden. He returned to politics in June, 2008 as one of the founders of the cyberliberal network Liberati, initially organised as a support group for Swedish Member of Parliament Camilla Lindberg, a close friend of Bard's. Liberati disbanded after the 2010 election, as they saw the election result as a defeat for liberalism. Bard consequently left the People's Party to join the competing Center Party, where he co-founded the party's online branch, Cybercentern, with Swedish parliamentarian Fredrick Federley in September 2011.
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