In August, 2005 Crown Princess Mette-Marit was in the headlines because she was attending the Invisible conference in Bodø. The topic of the conference was homosexuality and homosexuals in society, and the lack of knowledge frequently found around the subject. The Crown Princess gave the opening speech, but she also participated in sessions and discussions at the conference.
This August, a new book is out in bookstores. The book is called Skapsprengerne (Literally: Those who blow up the closets) and has the stories of several Norwegians and how they came out to their family, friends, and perhaps the larger sphere. One of the more famous participants in the book is the captain of the Norwegian National team in Women’s handball, Gro Hammerseng. Among the others are regular students, a farmer, actors or journalists.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit has written the preface to this book. Part of what she has written: “I hope that this book will create discussion and reflection about how important it is to be allowed to be a whole human being, and how we can help each other to become just that.”
The book is backed by the Ministry of Children and Equality. It will be given out to schools in Norway.