Axgil was, in 1948, a founding member of one of the oldest gay rights group in Europe, according to AP.
Excerpts from a story by Rex Wockner (Oct. 1, 1989) :
…
At the center of the festivities was 74-year-old Axel Axgil and his 67-year-old partner of 40 years, Eigil Axgil. Axel founded the Danish gay rights movement by coming out of the closet in 1948. He was fired from his job the very next day.
“I’m quite overwhelmed with all these people and the press,” Axel said through a translator, “but it’s overall very beautifully put together.”
“We just never could have dreamed we would get this far,” added Eigil. “Of course, we always hoped we would be fully accepted and have the same rights as others.”
Eigil said he was not troubled at being married amidst a “media circus” because it is “the necessary price you pay for making world history.”
…
Asked if he had any words of encouragement for gay and lesbian couples in other countries who might someday hope to be married, Eigil Axgil said, “Be open. Come out. Keep fighting. This is the only way to move anything. If everyone comes out of the closet then this will happen everywhere.”