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Married Gay Couple Saved 40 Youths in Oslo Massacre

But lesbians' heroics seems to slipped under the radar

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 2, 2011 2:25 PM CDT

(Newser) – We’ve heard several stories of heroism following the Oslo massacre, but one big story seems to have slipped through the cracks: The story of Toril Hansen and Hege Dalen, who saved 40 teens from Utoya island in their boat. The couple made four trips to save the youths, even though the vessel was hit by bullets following the first one. Some are wondering, writes Tom Chivers in the Telegraph: Did the story stay quiet because Hansen and Dalen are married lesbians?

The only news sources reporting on the story have been “specialist blogs, a Finnish newspaper and thousands of people on Twitter,” Chivers notes. He isn’t sure, however, whether we’re seeing bias at some level in the reporting chain. “Maybe a lesbian couple doesn’t fit the mould of heroic rescuer that we in the media are used to,” he writes. But “more likely that it’s just that, in the panicked days after the attacks, they just never happened to speak to a journalist.” Click for more on BuzzFeed.

A woman touches a Norwegian flag as people gather around thousands of flowers and tributes laid outside the Oslo Cathedral in Oslo in July.
A woman touches a Norwegian flag as people gather around thousands of flowers and tributes laid outside the Oslo Cathedral in Oslo in July.   (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 36 comments
flameforjustice
Aug 3, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
When you're considered some sort of minority you never receive credit for the good you do,only the bad  is picked up by mainstream media. Two strikes against them 1st being female 2nd being lesbians. Go ladies let the world see you in  all your "Girl Power Glory".
NationalSovereignty
Aug 3, 2011 12:28 AM CDT
Step out of the paradime for a minute, makes you sound really stupid. Your the only one so die hard "lefty".. Really not even self identified "republicans" will throw themselves under the bus for some politicians as much as you do. I don't want to see you get ran over, The lefties aren't fighting for you. They're fighting to keep controlling you and keeping you in this left vs right paradime. Grow out of it, it's childish.
NationalSovereignty
Aug 3, 2011 12:01 AM CDT
Stop being such ignorant babies, It's a wonderful story indeed. If you didn't mention their sexual orientation then i wouldn't have even known and it would still be a great story, Can someone explain why mentioning that someone takes it up the ass makes the story any better?

 
gay marriage • lesbians • Oslo • rescue • media bias • married couples • Norway terror attack

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