The Silent Speak Out

Translator's Note: This is a machine-assisted translation completed on April 23, 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 Please note that specialized terms, historical references, and nuanced content may benefit from expert review. 

In 1957, Øivind Eckhoff (1916-2001) published the book "Vi som føler annerledes" (We Who Feel Differently) under the pseudonym Finn Grodal. This was the first Norwegian non-fiction book about homosexuality.

In the book, Eckhoff encouraged readers to send him their own personal stories. Two years later, Eckhoff and his partner Arne Heli had received nearly 200 letters.

Eckhoff and Heli believed the letters provided a unique insight into the lives of homosexuals and wanted to publish the collection of letters as a book. The manuscript was titled "De tause taler ut" (The Silent Speak Out).

This manuscript was never published. However, it is available at the Skeivt Arkiv (Queer Archive).

With support from Fritt Ord and the Norwegian Arts Council, Øyvind Rogstad has developed a website that presents the letters from "De tause taler ut." Here, one can gain insight into the experiences of being homosexual, written in the late 1950s, in the words of the letter writers themselves. The manuscript's foreword, in which Eckhoff contextualizes the collection of letters, is also published, and it is possible to listen to the texts.

Øyvind Rogstad holds a master's degree in graphic design from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and worked on "De tause taler ut" for his master's project.

Website: Detausetalerut.no