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    A Lesbian Couple Saved 40 Kids in Norway

    By Connor Simpson | The Atlantic Wire – Tue, Aug 2, 2011
    A Lesbian Couple Saved 40 Kids in Norway

    A married lesbian couple saved 40 kids the day Anders Behring Breivik killed 76 people in a combined bombing and shooting attack in Norway, reports Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. Hege Dalen and Toril Hansen were eating lunch on the other side of the shore from the campsite where Breivik attacked. Kids started to run into the water to swim away from the attacker. Once they saw what was happening, they jumped into their boat and collected kids from the water, and took them to the opposite shore to safety. They did four trips and saved 40 kids. They noticed bullet holes in the side of their boat in between trips. Talk About Equality, a gay rights blog, wrote about the story wondering why more major news outlets haven't picked it up, saying, "Several blogs and gay and lesbian publications are now picking up the story, but the heavy hitters who usually kill for hero stories like this, have remained silent." 

     

    120 comments

    • Teray
      Teray  •  9 mths ago
      To the commenters who ask "So what if they are gay?", the point is that there has been no news about this couple at all until now. And the question is, is it because they are gay? It does seem like this is news gold -- people risking their lives to save children from a massacre that has shocked the world. That's the point.
      A lot of mean comments here, really sad.
      • I. J. West
        I. J. West 9 mths ago
        The commentaries aren't mean, they're honest. Do I need to be recognized as a black hero every time I do a good deed? No! Sometimes a story is missed. If the writer wasn't trying to be controversial to draw attention to their story they wouldn't have used the lesbian thing. Its just as bad as every time a crime is committed by a Black or Hispanic they are sure to tell the race unless its a white person.
      • Telestai
        Telestai 9 mths ago
        Those "honest" commentaries neglect to mention what kind of "news" USUALLY focuses on heterosexuality.
      • TerriD
        TerriD 9 mths ago
        True, stories are missed sometimes and true that it seems headlines use the race card, alot. But, is that right? Two wrongs make a right? To ignore the heoric acts of this couple just because they are differant does not seem like a good way to be. It does seem that many of the comments here are mean spirited; Why?
    • Nancy
      Nancy  •  9 mths ago
      Though it does'nt take gender , to make a hero. I want to applaud this couple. I'm straight, but their are " same couples'' out their who are silent heros. Our nurses, doctors, teachers, scientists,etc., etc., etc.! In the end we all have to answer to God, so while we're here, let's give thanks, were thanks are due!! And Not be judgemental.
      • dc
        dc 9 mths ago
        when will gays & lesbians feel comfortable with themselves and no longer have to identify themselves by sexual preference? (or perhaps the author of this article) It would have sufficed to say a couple.....
      • Teray
        Teray 9 mths ago
        The article is specifically referring to the fact that this was not covered, possibly due to them being gay.
      • Telestai
        Telestai 9 mths ago
        DC, gays and lesbians will feel "comfortable with themselves" when homophobes cease to inundate the media with scorn and condemnation of homosexuality, when those homophobes cease trying to amend the Constitution itself in order to promote their gay-hating agenda.
    • calven
      calven  •  9 mths ago
      God bless these women, they're what GOODNESS is all about.
    • k J
      k J  •  9 mths ago
      When a person puts their life at risk to help another human being, sexual orientation doesn't matter, is a private matter, and shouldn't even be mentioned. To even point out a person's sexuality attempts to take the focus off their true identity: Heroes...plain and simple.
      • Cecilia
        Cecilia 9 mths ago
        So, should gender not to be mentioned too, since someone saved 20 kids too? Shall we say that the males want publicity? And that gender has nothing to do with heroic act? What's the problem mentioning a lesbian couple saved 40 kids? So that people know that they're females & they're a couple? When there're news about a couple did this/that, do you say, "Their marital status has nothing to do with this/that, shouldn't mention a male & a female, should just say 2 persons"?
      • Telestai
        Telestai 9 mths ago
        In this case, mentioning gender might help to diffuse some of the knee-jerk fear, bigotry, and hatred directed at homosexuals.
    • John G
      John G  •  9 mths ago
      a person who helps to save lives is still a hero or a heroine, in God's Eyes. A life is a life and thankfully there was a loving couple, who wanted to help and did provide assistance to others. A loving couple who saw a need to help. We all live in a society that think that those of us who are gay or lesbian should be shunned, and here is a story that shows us just how shallow these heavy hitters are regarding heroism,
      • Jarp
        Jarp 9 mths ago
        Not a couple. Friends.
      • Royal
        Royal 9 mths ago
        The Jews have a saying "Save one life, save the world entire." These two were heros and need to be acknowledged. Jesus cares deeply about every life individually.
        Unfortunately, this also reminds me he cares about the terrorist too. I will be honest and admit I would REALLY like to forget that fact. Maybe tomorrow I will pray my thoughts and attitude into willingness to pray for the man as well as for his victims.
      • TerriD
        TerriD 9 mths ago
        . I pray for Anders, and All People including terrorist, the misguided, the loving, the hating, the joyful, the mean, etc…All of Us. We are not really any of those things anyway. Someone is not really a misguided person; they just did a misguided act. A person is not a hero; that is not Who they really are, they just did a heroic act and deserve respect for their selflessness. Risking they lives for another, showing Us all that We are all really the same.
    • nellie
      nellie  •  9 mths ago
      Do they have to mention they were gay? Nowhere else do I see "heterosexual saves baby from burning building" or "heterosexual couple rescues boy from drowning." They weren't saved BECAUSE they were gay, so get this propaganda crap out of here.
      It is great people are saving others, but sexual preference is not the saving grace.
      • K
        K 9 mths ago
        I think the point of the article was that no one is really covering this story, which should be media gold. Why are they not covering it? The fact they are homosexuals is only mentioned as a possible reason that no news networks are reporting on this heroic act. No one is implying that they were saved because they are gay.(They were not saved at all actually, they were quite safe and went into danger to save others!) I see no propaganda in this article.
      • Red
        Red 9 mths ago
        Dear homophobic:The whole world cries out about 80 killed, but when 40 are rescued the papers avoid to mention it because it was a married lesbian couple! That is racism an homophobic, and you know that, you are one of the people who don't give a dam about gay people, but as soon as someone tells something good about them you go to spread your hate and ignorance! Shame on You!
      • Telestai
        Telestai 9 mths ago
        Such indignation about mentioning the orientation of the heroes mirrors, precisely, the sort of indignation which surrounded "affirmative action" legislation in the US. Under the guise of "logic," racists insisted that the Constitution ALREADY provided for equality, so we didn't need to take any further steps in that direction.
    • .
      .  •  9 mths ago
      how is the fact that they're lesbians relevant?
    • Becky
      Becky  •  9 mths ago
      Thank God for that couple!
    • nuggt
      nuggt  •  9 mths ago
      GOD BLESS HEGE DALEN & TORIL HANSEN ...all caps ! blessings to each and every person who selflessly stepped into hero circle!
    • Linda
      Linda  •  9 mths ago
      Who cares that they were lesbian. What is important is they stood up and did what was right to save those kids.
    • David
      David  •  9 mths ago
      I thought the fact that the couple were "lesbians" was not really relevant. Must have come from a special interest publication. Regardless, bravo for them and anyone else who helped out at the tragedy. God help the victims and families.
    • jaimeg
      jaimeg  •  9 mths ago
      Are we supposed to believe that the rescuers saved these people because they were lesbians,or because they did what was the right thing,never mind their sexual orientation?
    • treesrme
      treesrme  •  9 mths ago
      i think the point of the story was that the major news did not mention that these two women saved 40 people.. risking their lives to do so.. i also think the headline is the hype.. the story is not that lesbians saved them, its two people saved them and perhaps they were ignored because they were lesbians.. would you have read the story if it said two women saved 40? at any rate they are heroes and heroes come in all shapes, sizes, colors, religions, etc...some people will just do the right thing no matter, some will not..
    • Royal
      Royal  •  9 mths ago
      I think it needs to be reported more. Heros are hard to come by. I think they should have their boat replaced; I also think the terrorist should be dumped into that boat, in the middle of the Pacific and told "Row. And if you make landfall, we do this again. No water."
    • shady1
      shady1  •  9 mths ago
      Always got to bring #$%$ crap to the table...I agree with the other poster (two Adults did the right thing)
    • Helen
      Helen  •  9 mths ago
      What does it matter what their sexual disorientation is? Okay, so they saved some children, which is commendable. But the fact that they do what they do in the bedroom doesn't make them any more heroic than the next person.
    • Law54
      Law54  •  9 mths ago
      To Dalen and Hansen - thank you for your efforts. You are true Heroines.
    • BulldogStGeorge
      BulldogStGeorge  •  9 mths ago
      A very heroic act. A shame the media has to use it to promote a sexual preference. How about just reporting that two women saved those people?
    • Frederick
      Frederick  •  9 mths ago
      Would the media say a straight married couple saved 40 kids in Norway if the situation was reversed ? I don't think so.
    • Hawra
      Hawra  •  9 mths ago
      who cares if they are? the important thing is that they saved 40 kids. I dont think we want to know about their life and crap. If they said 2 women saved 40 kids it wouldnt have made a difference. No one cares who they like, as long as theyre doing good in the world
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