Norwegian Would

I was thinking about lesbians today, (& who of us does not?), preparing for the post below. I have been dumbstruck by the lack of attention this story got in the mainstream press. Americans love a Hero Story, & yet I have seen no accounts in our country’s press of this story.

They were doing one of those things that lesbians do better than most of us- Camping. Hege Dalen & her spouse Toril Hansen were camping on an island when the couple were among the first responders to assist victims following the shooting massacre in Norway last week, when a Right Wing Christian gunman- Anders Behring Breivik went on a shooting rampage at a youth camp on Utoya island.

Dalen & Hansen made 4 trips back forth in their small boat, picking up injured, bloodied & scared young people.

Dalen & Hansen were near Utöyan having dinner on the opposite shore across from the ill-fated campsite, when they began to hear gunfire & screaming on the island.

Dalen: “We were eating. Then shooting & then the awful screaming. We saw how the young people ran in panic into the lake.”

The couple immediately took action & pushed the boat into Lake Tyrifjorden. Dalen & Hansen drove the boat to the island, picked up from the water victims in shock in, the young wounded, & transported them to the opposite shore to the mainland, all the while there were bullets flying overhead. They returned to the island 4 times. The couple were able to rescue 40 young people from the killer.

Heroes like Dalen & Hansen need to be part of the story when reported in the press. The Right Wingers call gay people many degrading names, but a HOMO HERO is a term that they just might choke on.