Kim F

At the website of The National Stage the following, among other things, is written about Kim F:

"Few women have meant so much to so many as Karen-Christine Friele. The shipping trader's daughter from Fana was the first person who came out as a homosexual in Norway, and she fought for the removal of the legal paragraph 213 and for homosexuality as a mental diagnosis. Behind were years of lobbying and hard work. After this, Friele's strong and clear voice has made way for love. When same-sex partnerships were legalised in 1993, Kim Friele and her Wenche Lowzow was the first couple to register. This newly written production provides perspectives on Kim F's long life, and on important changes, personally and politically.

Kim F is also a story of Norway. Who were we 70 years ago, and who are we today? The story of gay and lesbian rights is also a story of a nation where the term 'equality' still doesn't hold equal meaning for all."

In an interview with Kim Friele, published by The National Stage, the following, among other things, is written about Kim F:

"– The most important thing to me is that the performance finds room for humour, but other than that, I leave everything to the others, Kim Friele (83) laughs, reminding us she is known for her quick repartees.

(...)

Kim Friele was the first Norwegian to come out as openly homosexual. This was a choice she found necessary to survive as a recently divorced 27-year old.

– It wasn't hard for me to make that step. I don't know if it was due to my upbringing or if it is inborn confidence. Nor did I meet any negative reactions from my parents nor my colleagues in insurance. My boss and I sat on the windowsill and whistled for the girls wearing 1960es dresses.

She is aware that she was lucky. Very lucky. At the time, homosexuality was illegal as well as a diagnosis. For ten years she was the sole open homosexual, while the hidden community grew.

Important battle

– It was terribly depressing. Everyone was afraid and wanted to be anonymous. In 1971, I left my job in insurance to spend all my time as secretary general of Det norske forbund av 1948 (literally: The Norwegian association of 1948, former name of National Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender People, Sceneweb's comment). The most important thing was to get rid of §231, criminalising sex between men. We read all that was written within law and psychiatry, attacked the fools who postulated that homosexuality was an illness, and called for many meetings with lawyers, priests, politicians and media. Fortunately, communication gained ground at last, Friele says."

SOURCES:

The National Stage, dns.no, 12.12.2017, https://www.dns.no/program/2018/kim-f/

The National Stage, www.dns.no, 16.11.18, https://www.dns.no/tekster-og-videoer/2018/intervju-med-kim-friele/?fbclid=IwAR1orTBH1uflK4LAmMY7yABG3lrqiMaEUCJ7ZMmNtQxDXJjFdm_glpsXwkM

Teater Innlandet, www.teaterinnlandet.no, 19.09.2018, http://www.teaterinnlandet.no/kim-f