– What is missing is perhaps exactly what I have done. The lack of role models. I have been very alone in this. The audience and everyone else has been very supportive, and that has helped, says Lillelien during Wednesday’s pride debate, and emphasizes: – You stand there in a storm alone. It was part of a longer response to questions about whether he or the other panelists see any improvement in attitudes around queer athletes. Lillelien pointed out that campaigns with rainbow-coloured logos, captain’s armbands and corner flags help, but that it is the role models that are missing. The Drammen player was part of a panel with, among others, former national team player Anja Hammerseng-Edin to talk about being queer in sport. Hammerseng-Edin greatly appreciates that Lillelien wants to talk openly about the subject. – I am very, very grateful, Ola, for what you have done now. You show that it is possible and that you can be exactly the person you are and be met with love. I really support Ola!, says the national team legend to news after the debate. GOOD TONE: Anja Hammerseng-Edin and Ola Hoftun Lillelien took part in the debate about queer people’s experiences with participation in sport. Photo: Anna Stensrud / news – Do the others fall off? As the Eliteserien’s only openly gay male player, there is one question in particular that preoccupies the Drammen player: Why is he alone about it? IN ACTION: Ola Hoftun Lillelien (in blue with number 31) in a duel with Arendal’s Jørg William Fiala Gjermundnes. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB – There is a difference between being a gay man and a woman in sports. There have long been many lesbian handball players and soccer players, for example, who are awesome. This is not the case on the men’s side, Lillelien tells news. He continues: – People think that it is so acceptable, and in handball we say: “As much as possible, for as long as possible”. But then I wonder where the seven percent is? He means that seven percent is the national average for the number of queers in Norway. – That number is not reflected in sports. What is the reason it does not exist? I am the only openly gay man in the Eliteserien. Do the others fall by the wayside? In the cultural sector, you see a much greater representation of male homosexuals, for example – why is that? Is there greater acceptance there? These are questions I want to air. The work that is not visible in the form of campaigns and rainbows is at least as important. By spending time and money on research, Lillelien believes. On Wednesday, he shared his thoughts during a debate about queer experiences in sport at Oslo Pride, organized by the Directorate for Children, Youth and Families (Bufdir) and the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF). Senior adviser at Bufdir, Yngve Bråten, tells news that they want greater insight into why gay men are not very visible in sports: – Bufdir’s living conditions survey from 2021 shows that few gay men are members of sports teams and associations. We hope to gain more insight into why this is so. After the summer, we will start a research project on this, so in a year’s time we will hopefully know a lot more than today. HAPPY: Lillelien accepted as soon as he got the offer to take part in the debate about being queer in sport. Photo: news Was disappointed In the podcast “Våre vinnere” on 16 June, Lillelien said that neither the Norwegian Handball Association (NHF) nor NIF had contacted him after he went public with his attitude last year. – I was just disappointed that they didn’t get in touch, says the handball player to news. He believes the associations should listen to new experiences and take advantage of the knowledge they do not possess themselves: – A heterosexual does not have the experiences of someone who is queer. I am not the expert, but I can contribute with the experience of someone who has been in it myself – what I experienced and felt, which the associations have not thought about. You have to listen to those who experience it. Hammerseng-Edin thinks it shows respect: – It is a wonderful signal and openness from him to say that “I am here and you can learn”. In today’s debate, it became clear that we do not know enough. There is too little research. There is too little knowledge. He is sitting on solid experience now that the association can choose to be curious about and learn more about. NIF: Senior adviser for value work Håvard B. Øvregård. Photo: Anders Fehn When Håvard B. Øvregård, senior advisor for value work at NIF, heard Lillelien’s thoughts and disappointment at the lack of communication, he invited Lillelien to Wednesday’s debate. – I really appreciate that. I wish I hadn’t had to invite myself in a way, but I think anyway that it’s never “too late”, says Lillelien. Øvregård explains why NIF did not get in touch earlier. – I remember the media reports about Lillelien about a year ago, and was very happy that there was a new open male sports profile. We do not make contact directly with individual athletes who are open about their sexuality. It should be up to the individual performer how much they want to comment on their own sexuality, but when someone actively wants their experiences and knowledge to be used, we are very happy about this. That is why I have taken the opportunity now, after I was contacted by you in the media about this matter, to invite Lillelien to the panel at the debate, says Øvregård to news. NIF has been working on the subject since 2007, and has, among other things, created a guide for handling discrimination. – We want a sports environment where everyone is confident that they can be open about their sexual orientation. It is not the person who is gay himself who should make it easy to be open, it is the sport. We know that this is easier where the topic has been raised, and therefore encourage trainers and other responsible persons to raise the topic and highlight good attitudes towards gender and sexuality diversity, says Øvregård. The NHF was also not aware of Lillelien’s disappointment until news made contact. They, too, would like to listen to what the 23-year-old has on his mind. HUGE RESPECT: Lars Hojem Kvam is head of media and communications at NHF. Photo: Discovery Network Norway – We have great respect for Ola, and have made our support and honor for him visible on a number of occasions. We did that a couple of weeks ago at the latest. We are happy to sit down with him to hear his thoughts and input, and we are therefore going to take the initiative for such a talk, writes Lars Hojem Kvam, head of media and communications at NHF, to news. Gloomy statistics In Bufdir’s living conditions survey from 2021, it emerges that the proportion of lesbians, gays and bisexuals with poor mental health is significantly greater than among heterosexuals. Quality of life for queers is consistently lower than the population average. At the same time, queer people are more exposed to hate crime. INSTAGRAM POST: Last spring, Lillelien went public and said he was gay. He has received a lot of positive feedback, but there has also been incitement. Photo: Screenshot / Instagram In the past year, the Drammen player has experienced first-hand what it’s like to be openly gay. – I didn’t know what it was like to be gay until I came out, because then comes the prejudice. I haven’t changed since the day before the post, but from that day on, suddenly someone didn’t like me. “Why not? You’ve never met me,’ I thought. An open-hearted Lillelien tells news. – It is a frightening statistic with disproportionately high numbers. I myself have worked in psychiatry and see the vicious circle, says Lillelien, who herself recently experienced incitement. CLOSED COMMENT FIELD: Lillelien hopes openness can prevent hate against queers. Photo: Hans Henrik Bårtveit – Because of rude comments, Dagbladet had to close the comment section in the case I was involved in which was about the hatred towards queers, says the Drammen player. Øvregård points out that this is a big problem. – Unfortunately, many people experience this, and it can be because of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. This is not a sporting problem, but a societal problem. Unfortunately, it is something you expose yourself to when you are in public, and it shouldn’t be like that. This is one of the reasons why the individual must choose which public role they want to have. At the same time, being publicly open means a lot to many. In Ola, young boys get a role model they didn’t have before, says Øvregård in NIF. Lillelien believes that much can be solved by sharing experiences and information: – I think it’s about a lack of knowledge. That is why it is so important to inform. Transparency can save lives. Record high participation from sports predicted Magne Brekke, secretary general of the Oslo Sports Circle, predicts a record high attendance from sports in this year’s Pride parade. HOPE FOR A BIG ATTENDANCE: Magne Brekke is looking forward to the Pride train in Oslo on 1 July. Photo: Anders Fehn / news – As of now, there are around 500 who will go with us, but we hope for up to 1000. 14 sports teams are registered. In addition, the Norwegian Football Association, the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association and the Norwegian Basketball Association will be involved. There will be a record-breaking train this year from the sport, Brekke tells news. – It is great and very important that so many people apply. Especially the ice hockey association, which is known for a macho and locker room culture with tough duels and a lot of testosterone. But the sport itself does not necessarily reflect the people, says Lillelien, who believes that locker room culture has gotten an undeserved bad reputation: – I love locker room culture. Not all wardrobe culture is unhealthy. There is a lot of good wardrobe culture. We are not necessarily that tough in the dressing room, smiles the handball player. LOVES WARDROBE CULTURE: Wardrobe culture has gotten an undeserved bad reputation, says Lillelien. Photo: news
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