"A danger to society world-wide."
This was how homosexuality was describeed at the Bishops' Council in 1954. Homosexuality was forbidden in Norway until 1972, and 10 years later was no longer diagnosed as an illness. Even though the taboos and prejudices have gradually decreased, the Church Council of 2014 decided not to allow church weddings for homosexuals and lesbians. Today it is up to each individual priesty to decide whether he/she will give the church's blessing for a couple who have entered into a partnership or same-sex marriage.
"Getting the church's blessing for our marriage was important for us; it was only then that we felt that we were really married!" (Torill Frøise)
Photo: Ragne Gjengedal. Torill Frøise and Synnøve Lie Johannesen received the blessing of priest Trond Egil Moe on June 10th 2009, as the first same-sex couple to in the diocese of Bergen.
In Sami society homosexuality is still a taboo and virtually invisible. Rigid gender roles, family bonds, religion, traditions, discrimination and prejudice make it difficult for a person to come out as homosexual or lesbian in Sami communities.
"I had gathered that homosexuality was associated with sin and shame, and if the subject arose I would tremble and blush and had to get away. I was continuously on guard, and scared of being outed." (Svenn-Egil Knutsen Duolljá)
The first Sami to enter into marriage with a person of the same sex was Svenn-Egil Knutsen Duolljá, who married Bruce Morén-Duolljá in january 2009.
This was how homosexuality was describeed at the Bishops' Council in 1954. Homosexuality was forbidden in Norway until 1972, and 10 years later was no longer diagnosed as an illness. Even though the taboos and prejudices have gradually decreased, the Church Council of 2014 decided not to allow church weddings for homosexuals and lesbians. Today it is up to each individual priesty to decide whether he/she will give the church's blessing for a couple who have entered into a partnership or same-sex marriage.
"Getting the church's blessing for our marriage was important for us; it was only then that we felt that we were really married!" (Torill Frøise)
Photo: Ragne Gjengedal. Torill Frøise and Synnøve Lie Johannesen received the blessing of priest Trond Egil Moe on June 10th 2009, as the first same-sex couple to in the diocese of Bergen.
In Sami society homosexuality is still a taboo and virtually invisible. Rigid gender roles, family bonds, religion, traditions, discrimination and prejudice make it difficult for a person to come out as homosexual or lesbian in Sami communities.
"I had gathered that homosexuality was associated with sin and shame, and if the subject arose I would tremble and blush and had to get away. I was continuously on guard, and scared of being outed." (Svenn-Egil Knutsen Duolljá)
The first Sami to enter into marriage with a person of the same sex was Svenn-Egil Knutsen Duolljá, who married Bruce Morén-Duolljá in january 2009.