In 2009 I came out of the the closet as a lesbian. I am a christian and was at the time well in the time with prestestudier by The theological Menighetsfakultet (MF). I was also heavily involved politically in the Christian democratic Party (KrF) and ungdomspartiet the Norwegian Christian democratic party youth (KrFU).
It is no secret that these venues that I was associated with have very kjipe stories of how queer has been processed. This applies both to the formulation of policies (KrF) or faith (MF), and how queer people with public office or position has been processed.
I was terribly nervous, bordering on scared, for what was going to happen when I would “come out of the closet” on these venues. For me, it was not a theme to live in hiding with my orientation, and as a christian I was very clear that being gay was (and is) a sin. That I could continue to work for KrFs politics, I had to know that I could also live true with my orientation!
Two of the first people I told him that I was a lesbian, was the then leader and deputy leader of KrFU, Kjell Britain Ropstad and Elisabeth Løland. From day one I received full support and it was, of course, that I would continue my political involvement! Not in spite of my orientation, it had actually nothing to say, but because of what I could contribute with!
Ropstad and Løland also later stood by my side when I have faced discrimination in their own party or in other political arenas. Both Ropstad and Løland has been to create room in the party for political engagement, regardless of orientation or sexual identity.
I feel why not leave in the image that now has been created by my earlier partikolleger – that they are mørkemenn/women. This image has media, including the class struggle, has been to contribute greatly to.
such A focus fordummer public debate and creates contempt for skilled politicians. Such a focus helps to create more distance, alienation and hatred between people. In these days, where we live with extremism, racism, and heads of state who are more concerned with power than to create peace, it is even more important to create a good and orderly public debate.
This starts on our own home turf, in the Norwegian politics! It is therefore high time that the media, politicians and other voices that contribute to the public debate, going in herself. Let us discuss the case and not appoint persons attitudes or opinions they do not have. Let the respect isn’t be a mainstay.
Ropstad dissociate from the conversion of homosexuals
