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Tonje Gjevjon vs. transgender people

Tonje Gjevjon is a Norwegian actor, filmmaker, and anti-transgender activist. According to a profile in Skeivt Arkiv, “Since 2017, Gjevjon has been one of the most visible—and controversial—voices in the public debate on transgender issues in Norway.”

Background

Tonje Gjevjon was born in 1967 and studied at KunsthĂžyskolen i Bergen, completing training in 1999. Gjevjon was then part of the lesbian subculture, particularly at the venue Potta.

Gjevjon directed and acted in the 2015 film Dunno Y 2… Life Is a Moment. Gjevjon is a leader of the Hungry Hearts art collective.

Gjevjon is married to Edith Roth Gjevjon.

Anti-transgender activism

Gjevjon became increasingly outspoken against transgender people in 2017 and claims this led to being unable to find work.

Gjevjon helped establish Norwegian chapters of anti-trans groups, including Women’s Declaration International and LGB Alliance.

Gjevjon was involved in LLH – 2019, an LGB separatist organization created in response to trans-supportive rights organization FRI – foreningen for kjĂžnns- og seksualitetsmangfold [Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity]. Gjevjon co-founded LHB Norge with Tor Arne Dahl.

Gjevjon is desk manager for Matriarken Forlag [Matriarch Publishing], founded by Christina Ellingsen. They sell merchandise and books, including Fremtiden er ikke lenger hva den pleide Ă„ vĂŠre [The future is no longer what it used to be] by photographer Marianne Rovas Olsen.

References

Skeivt Arkiv (May 23, 2025) Tonje Gjevjon (born 1967). https://skeivtarkiv.no/en/tonje-gjevjon-born-1967

Power, Shannon (December 22, 2022). Lesbian Says She Faces Jail for Trans Remarks But Her Critics Say Otherwise. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/tonje-gjevjon-trans-men-lesbian-transgender-norway-1768161

ElnĂŠs, Caroline Ugelstad (December 13, 2022). Politiet oppretter sak mot Tonje Gjevjon [Police open case against Tonje Gjevjon]. Blikk https://www.blikk.no/christine-marie-jentoft-hatkrim-hatkriminalitet/politiet-oppretter-sak-mot-tonje-gjevjon/227687

Jentoft, Christine Marie (July 20, 2022). En anmeldelse ble til «fake news» og dro verden rundt [A review became “fake news” and went around the world]. Blikk https://www.blikk.no/christine-marie-jentoft-hatkrim-hatkriminalitet/en-anmeldelse-ble-til-fake-news-og-dro-verden-rundt/221758

Coverage in anti-trans press

Macdonald, Jocelyn (February 14, 2023). Tonje Gjevjon is Lesbian, Not Criminal. AfterEllen https://afterellen.com/tonje-gjevjon-is-lesbian-not-criminal/

Fox News (December 15, 2022). Norwegian actress Tonje Gjevjon faces up to 3 years in prison for saying men cannot be lesbians. New York Post https://nypost.com/2022/12/15/tonje-gjevjon-faces-up-to-3-years-in-prison-for-saying-men-cannot-be-lesbians/

Selected writing by Gjevjon

Gjevjon, Tonje (January 7, 2023). ‘I am a lesbian who doesn’t believe men can be lesbians: Take me to court.’ Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2023/01/07/i-am-a-lesbian-who-doesnt-believe-men-can-be-lesbians-take-me-to-court/

Gjevjon, Tonje (October 11, 2023). NĂ„r lesbiske kvinner fremstilles som transfobe nazister [When lesbian women are portrayed as transphobic Nazis]. Samlivsrevolusjonen
https://www.samlivsrevolusjonen.no/nar-lesbiske-kvinner-fremstilles-som-transfobe-nazister/

Gjevjon, Tonje (October 21, 2022). LGB Alliance launches their theme song Stand Up! LGB Alliance https://lgballiance.org.uk/lgb-alliance-launches-their-theme-song-stand-up/

Gjevjon, Tonje (December 19, 2019). Kjþnnsreise eller tidsreise [“Gender journey or time travel”]. Samlivsrevolusjonen
https://www.samlivsrevolusjonen.no/kjonnsreise-eller-tidsreise/

Gjevjon, Tonje (November 20, 2019). Toleranse for andres meninger – en vanskelig sak [Tolerance for others’ opinions – a difficult matter]. Samlivsrevolusjonen https://www.samlivsrevolusjonen.no/toleranse-for-andres-meninger-en-vanskelig-sak/

Gjevjon, Tonje (October 20, 2019). Jaquesson og det skeive patriarkatet. En lang historie. [Jaquesson and the queer patriarchy: A long story]. Samlivsrevolusjonen https://www.samlivsrevolusjonen.no/jaquesson-og-det-skeive-patriarkatet-en-lang-historie/

Gjevjon, Tonje (August 3, 2019). Pride is no longer about fighting discrimination; it’s no wonder people are choosing not to raise the flag. Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2019/08/03/pride-is-no-longer-about-fighting-discrimination-its-no-wonder-people-are-choosing-not-to-raise-the-flag/

Gjevjon, Tonje (January 13, 2017). Ytringsfrihet, men ikke for alle [Freedom of Speech — But Not for Everyone]. NRK https://www.nrk.no/ytring/ytringsfrihet_-men-ikke-for-alle-1.13320715

Media

Women’s Declaration International (February 13, 2025). Tonje Gjevjon and Alison Ellis – Norway – Collecting stories from young lesbians #WDI #FQT. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-IriCEJMTg

Skeivt arkiv (October 21, 2024). Tonje Gjevjon. Artist, musician, and activist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OsWDx6CkKg

Savage Minds with Julian Vigo, Tonje Gjevjon and Christina Ellingsen (December 29, 2022). Tonje Gjevjon and Christina Ellingsen. https://savageminds.substack.com/p/tonje-gjevjon-and-christina-ellingsen

GBNews with Leo Kearse (December 18, 2022). Tonje Gjevjon faces up to three years in prison for saying men CAN’T be lesbians | Leo Kearse reacts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLpEwIovL2g

Resources

Hungry Hearts (hungryhearts.no)

Matriarken (matriarken.no)

LLH – 2019 (llh2019.no) [archive]

LHB Norge (lhbnorge.no)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

IMDb (imdb.com)

Feminist Current (feministcurrent.com)