Queer Places:
Dermot
Mack (November 20, 1914 – February 18, 2001) was one of the pioneers of Det norske forbundet av 1948 (DNF-48), where he was leader (1953–58 and 1960–62). He made a significant effort that contributed to prevent the worsening of the legal situation for homosexuals.
Dermot Stuart Mack was from a wealthy family, the son of Dermot Stuart Mack and Effie Anne Rieber, and grew up in Bergen. He studied law in Oslo and worked for some years as a deputy judge. Later, he would live of his inheritance and he was able to devote most of his time to work for DNF-48.
As a leader of DNF-48, Mack emphasised the organisation’s policy of securing anonymity of its members, as well as making sure potential members appeared "respectable" and were trustworthy. He thought this necessary in the hostile social climate at the time.
In the 1950s he contributed significantly to DNF-48’s arguments against a suggested revision of § 213 in the Criminal code. In reality, this revision would have led to increased prosecution of homosexuals, and it could have become even harder doing organised work for this group. Later in life, it became important for Mack to emphasise how these efforts contributed to prevent the suggested change. Being wealthy, he was able to both put down a great effort in this task and to contribute substantially to funding the work.
Mack was also an editor of the magazine Løvetann in the 1980s. All the articles he wrote for the magazine are published in our digital archive.
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