At Skeivt Archive in Bergen, everything is well taken care of. On shelf row after shelf row, in box after box, are pictures, objects, and other material that tells something about the place of skewness in society through the ages. With fresh funding from the Ministry of Culture and Gender Equality, the researchers at the Skeivt Archive in Bergen will for the first time research this part of Norwegian history. – It is absolutely fantastic and means a lot. It is a movement that has meant an incredible amount to Norwegian cultural history, says professor at the University of Bergen, Tone Hellesund. Items have been donated and objects found that reflect the entire Norwegian gay struggle. These are stored at Skeivt archive in Bergen. Photo: Sunniva Linjord / news Little research on gay activist Kim Friele dreamed of doing more research on the Norwegian movement, and donated both his personal archive and money to the Skeivt archive. – It has been difficult to raise money for skewed research in Norway, and one of Kim Friele’s great sorrows was precisely that too little research was done, Hellesund says. 50 years after homosexuality was decriminalized, Friele’s dream comes true. The Ministry of Culture and Gender Equality has now allocated NOK 1.5 million to the Skeivt Archive and the National Archives. Next year, the project will receive an additional NOK 2 million. This will be the first major research project on Norway’s queer history. – Skew is not something new, but has always been a part of Norwegian history. So getting it into the history books is important, says Hellesund. Collected after the attack in Oslo Skeivt archive has together with the National Archives collected material that can be linked to skewed history as far back as there are traces. But also recent events will be part of the research project. The area in front of Oslo District Court was for several days colored by flowers and rainbow flags after the attack on the night of 25 June. In the days that followed, people from far and wide came to the site to remember the two people who were killed and the 21 who were injured in what the police are investigating as a terrorist attack. – It will unfortunately be an important part of the queer story, and then it is important that it is documented and researched, the professor says. Rainbow flags, teddy bears, letters and flowers that were laid down are neatly packed away in cardboard boxes and freezer boxes at Skeivt archive in Bergen. – It will be important material for those who come after us to be able to understand the terrible feelings that arose after the attack, she says. Objects after the attack in Oslo may become particularly important in the future. Photo: Mette Anthun / news – Nothing has come of itself Minister of Culture and Gender Equality Anette Trettebergstuen says that the shooting at the London pub in Oslo is proof of how badly needed the research project is. – A lot of people may take the rights we have for granted, but the gay fight was a hard fight that cost a lot for very many, she says. According to Trettebergstuen, the Skeivt archive contains large amounts of materials that will be valuable for understanding Skeiv’s situation both today and in the past. – Researching how history has been, is about getting to know ourselves and becoming aware that nothing has come of itself, says Trettebergstuen.
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– It is important material for posterity – news Vestland
