 Gilbert's political activism was sparked by the Vietnam War, and he initially became a member of the Solidarity Committee for Vietnam (Solkom).He later joined the Marxist-Leninist SUF(m-l) and the maoist AKP(m-l), and was an active member (the latter party only accepted "active membership") during the 1970s.He is currently a member of the revolutionary socialist Red Party, and has represented its direct predecessor, the Red Electoral Alliance, the electoral front of the AKP(m-l) in the Troms county council for three terms, from 1979 to 1987 (two terms), and from 1995 to 1999.