Kjell Erik Øie (born 1960)

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Øie has been one of the most prominent spokespersons and driving forces for queer rights over many years.

Kjell Erik Ullmann Øie was born and raised in Trondheim. As early as 1980, he became involved in the local chapter of DNF-48 in his hometown.

He later moved to Oslo, where he has lived ever since. From 1987 to 1991, he served first as deputy leader and then as leader of DNF-48, with Kim Friele as Secretary General. This period was marked by internal conflict, culminating in Friele’s resignation from her position.

Øie was the first full-time employee of the Helseutvalget (Health Committee). He was also one of the key advocates and driving forces behind the Partnership Act, as a member of the “Partnership Group.”

In 2008, Øie served as State Secretary in the Ministry of Children and Equality when the proposal for a gender-neutral Marriage Act was introduced. That same year, he was named Honorary Queer of the Year by LLH.

In an excerpt from the interview, Øie recounts the LLH-organized event where Kim Friele and Wenche Lowzow were among the first to enter into a registered partnership—despite his initial opposition to the idea.

The full interview with Kjell Erik Øie is available at Skeivt Arkiv. We met him in Oslo, April 2018.