Haldis Nymoen

Translator's Note: This is a machine-assisted translation completed on March 11, 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 Please note that specialized terms, historical references, and nuanced content may benefit from expert review. 

Haldis Nymoen was one of the first women to hold a position of trust in the Norwegian gay rights movement. She made a significant contribution to the Norwegian Association of 1948 (DNF-48) over many decades.

Kim Friele wrote about how the environment around DNF-48 was male-dominated when she joined in the 1960s, but that some women still played important roles. Among the few she highlighted by full name was Haldis Nymoen, who, according to Friele, was practical and "regarded efforts as an honorable mission" (Friele 1990, p. 171).

Do you know more about Haldis Nymoen? Contact skeivtarkiv@uib.no or phone 900 68 573.

Haldis Elida Nymoen was born on July 6, 1934, at Støa in Trysil (Larsen 1989, p. 169). She likely attended school in Hamar; in any case, she later mentioned in an interview that she had her first experiences with women there:

- I had my first experiences in Hamar. It was very exciting and nice, but I don't think any of the girls were homosexual (Eikvam 1985).

Secret parties

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Sometime in the 1950s, she is said to have moved to Oslo. In an interview with Lis Pedersen and Arne Walderhaug in 1990, she mentioned that at this time, the pub Original Pilsen in Tollbodgata was a meeting place for homosexuals: "[...] very tough women came, some of them dressed in suits with vests and ties" (Pedersen and Walderhaug 1990, p. 50).

She herself worked with a gay man and was thus introduced to other women and men. After a while, a friend asked her to join one of DNF-1948's parties, which at the time were held at Ormsund Rowing Club. Nymoen became a member of the Association in 1959 (Eikvam 1985). On the train to Bekkelaget and Ormsund, one often met many acquaintances, but no one would say a word to each other until safely inside the venue. Registration was required three days in advance, and one had to be accompanied by someone who was already a member (Pedersen and Walderhaug 1990, p. 50).

In 1961, Haldis joined the board. While DNF-48 had been very male-dominated, according to Haldis, this particular board consisted of an equal number of women and men. The board's primary work was organizing social gatherings.

After this, Nymoen lived in Tromsø for a few years during the 1960s. Here, she found no visible lesbian community (Pedersen and Walderhaug 1990). When she moved back to Oslo, she again became involved in the Association’s governance, spending considerable time on the board of DNF-48's nightclub, Metropol.

Haldis Nymoen belonged to a generation where very few lived completely openly. In an interview with Turid Eikvam in 1985, she said she thought they knew about it at work, and that she defended homosexuals there whenever the topic came up. In her family, the subject had never been explicitly addressed:

"I don’t see them very often. They live far away. I’ve never talked to them about it, but they probably know. I’ve brought girlfriends home, and it has always been pleasant and fine" (Eikvam 1985, p. 21).

Inger Myhre Hansen on Haldis

The Queer Archive has spoken with Inger Myhre Hansen, who knew Haldis Nymoen. When she first approached DNF-48 in the 1960s, she recalls that it was Haldis and another person who welcomed her. Like Kim Friele, Inger Myhre Hansen also emphasizes that Haldis was committed to the cause for many years:

"Haldis was a cheerful woman, well-liked and easy to get to know. She was caring and looked after other people."