Olav André Manum (born 1955)

Translator's Note: This is a machine-assisted translation completed on July 25, 2025. While care has been taken to maintain accuracy, this translation has not yet undergone human review or validation. Please note that specialized terms, historical references, and nuanced content may benefit from expert review. 

Manum is an author, translator, and journalist. During the 1980s, he served for a period as editor of the journal Løvetann. For many years, he has been actively involved with HivNorge, including as a journalist for the organization’s magazine Positiv. In 2010, he authored the book Kjærlighet, kunnskap og kondom (Love, Knowledge, and Condoms), which explores the political struggle surrounding HIV in Norway.

Manum grew up in Fredrikstad. In the interview, he recounts how he quickly became part of the more radical wing of the queer movement after moving to Oslo. Through literature and other written media, he became committed to portraying the everyday, lived experiences of queer individuals—alongside the political struggle. He also helped organize Norway’s first queer film festival in 1986.

In an excerpt from our interview with Manum, he speaks about his deep passion for queer literature and the importance of sharing it with others. He emphasizes the need to also tell stories of joyful queer lives—though such narratives, he notes, did not always make for the most 'literary' literature at the time.

The full interview is available in our reading room. We met Olav André Manum in Oslo, August 2018.