Marte Wexelsen Goksøyr (born 1982) is a Norwegian actress, public speaker, writer and public debater. Born with Down syndrome, she has made a public stance against stigmatisation of disabled people and against selective abortions.

Early life and education

Goksøyr grew up in Nittedal and has seven siblings. She later moved to Oslo.Rebekka Joswig (9 June 201
Marte Wexelsen Goksøyr får Stolthetsprisen
'' Vårt Land''. Retrieved 7 March 2014 She studied drama at Hartvig Nissen School and at Romerike folk high school.

Theatre and documentary

In 2004, Goksøyr played the lead role in ''Cinderella'', a piece she had co-written. The play was performed at the Torshov Theatre. She played the role of Kamomilla in ''

When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town ''When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town'' ( no, Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by) is a 1955 Norwegian children's book written and illustrated by Thorbjørn Egner, which tells the story of Kardemomme by (Cardamom Town). It is considered one of the m ...

'' in 2004.Idalou Larse
Flerbunnet teaterlek
Idalou.no. Retrieved 11 March 2014 She was featured in the 2007 NRK documentary ''Bare Marte'' (Just Marte). Together with Siv Svendsen, she has written the play "Jeg svarte på en drøm" (I answered a dream) which is partly based on her own life and she played one of the two characters. The piece has been performed at the National Theatre in Oslo.

Public views

In 2011, '' VG'' published an op-ed headlined "Utrydningstruet" (English: Endangered) by Goksøyr where she opposed a proposal to offer Norwegian women obstetric ultrasonography at week 12 during pregnancy in order to screen for fetus defects, including Down syndrome. She compared the proposal to the practice of killing disabled children in Nazi-Germany. Parliamentarian

Laila Dåvøy Laila Dåvøy (born 11 August 1948, in Bergen) is a Norwegian nurse and politician for the Christian Democratic Party. She is a former member of the Norwegian parliament and a former Minister and leader of the Norwegian Nurses' Union. Career ...

of the Christian People's Party subsequently invited Goksøyr to the

Parliament of Norway The Storting ( no, Stortinget ) (lit. the Great Thing) is the supreme legislature of Norway, established in 1814 by the Constitution of Norway. It is located in Oslo. The unicameral parliament has 169 members and is elected every four years bas ...

. After a meeting where Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg had answered questions in the Parliament related to the proposal, Goksøyr approached him in the hall with questions regarding the proposal wearing a T-shirt with the inscription "Utrydningstruet" (Endangered). NTB (18 February 2011
Varsler oppvask etter KrF-stunt
'' VG''. Retrieved 7 March 2014 The event created much media attention. Members of other parties criticised the Christian People's Party for having invited her to the hall area of the parliament. In 2012, Goksøyr published the book ''Jeg vil leve'' (English: I want to live) which both focused on her own life as a person with Down syndrome and political issues related to the disorder. The book contained interviews with then Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, mayor of Oslo

Fabian Stang Richard Fabian Stang (born 19 August 1955) is a Norwegian lawyer and a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.

, Goksøyr's parents and others.Hilde Bjørnskau (12 August 2013
Har Downs, skriver bok om mobbing
NRK. Retrieved 7 March 2014 During the NRK broadcast of the Norwegian Constitution

bicentennial __NOTOC__ A bicentennial or bicentenary is the two-hundredth anniversary of a part, or the celebrations thereof. It may refer to: Europe * French Revolution bicentennial, commemorating the 200th anniversary of 14 July 1789 uprising, celebrated ...

2014, Goksøyr spoke in favour of a diverse and inclusive society and against selective abortion of fetuses with Down syndrome.

Awards and recognition

Goksøyr has received several awards and was the first Norwegian woman to be awarded the

Bjørnson Prize The Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression (''Det Norske Akademi for Litteratur og Ytringsfrihet'') is a Norwegian institution, founded by the poet Knut Ødegård in 2003, and also called ''Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson-Akademiet''. I ...

. *Honorary Award from the Norwegian Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (2009) Dagens litterære
'' Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen''. Retrieved 7 March 2014 *Donation award in remembrance of Wenche Foss (2011) *The

(with Ola Didrik Saugstad) (2011) *Stolhetsprisen (English:: The Pride Prize). Awarded by the

Norwegian Association of the Disabled The Norwegian Association of the Disabled ( no, Norges Handikapforbund, NHF) is an interest organization for disabled people in Norway. The organization has eleven suborganizations for people with specific disabilities, a youth branch, nine regi ...

and the Norwegian Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. (2012) *Livsvernprisen (English: The Protection of Life Prize) Awarded by the organization Menneskeverd. (2012)Randi Hegle (4 January 2012
«Utrydningstruet» får Livsvernprisen
'' Vårt Land''. Retrieved 6 March 2014

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goksoyr, Marte Wexelsen 1982 births Living people People from Nittedal Norwegian people with disabilities Norwegian stage actresses Norwegian non-fiction writers Norwegian women non-fiction writers Norwegian women dramatists and playwrights Norwegian disability rights activists Actors with Down syndrome 21st-century Norwegian women writers 21st-century Norwegian dramatists and playwrights Activists with disabilities