Gay rights in Iceland
Encyclopedia
LGBT rights in Iceland include the legalization of marriage and adoption for same-sex couples. In February 2009 a minority government took office, headed by Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
, the world's first openly gay
head of government
in modern times
. The parliament amended the marriage law on 11 June 2010 to define marriage as between two individuals, thereby making same-sex marriage legal. The law took effect on 27 June 2010.
for same-sex couples became legal in 1996. It was replaced by the gender-neutral marriage law on 27 June 2010.
On 23 March 2010, the Government presented the bill, which would allow same-sex couples to marry. On 11 June 2010 the parliament unanimously approved the bill. The law took effect on 27 June.
Despite its small population, Reykjavík
has a visible gay scene, with a couple of bars and cafés, and some places with a mixed gay and straight crowd. Elsewhere in Iceland, however, the sparse population means there is no gay scene.
Gay pride
parades in Iceland are usually held in August.
Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir , , is the Prime Minister of Iceland. Many years a politician, she was previously Iceland's Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security from 1987–1994 and 2007–2009. She has been a member of the Althing for Reykjavík constituencies since 1978, winning re-election on eight...
, the world's first openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
head of government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
in modern times
Modern history
Modern history, or the modern era, describes the historical timeline after the Middle Ages. Modern history can be further broken down into the early modern period and the late modern period after the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution...
. The parliament amended the marriage law on 11 June 2010 to define marriage as between two individuals, thereby making same-sex marriage legal. The law took effect on 27 June 2010.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
Law criminalizing same-sex sexual activity was repealed in 1940. In 1992 the age of consent was set at 14.Recognition of same-sex unions
Registered partnershipsCivil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
for same-sex couples became legal in 1996. It was replaced by the gender-neutral marriage law on 27 June 2010.
On 23 March 2010, the Government presented the bill, which would allow same-sex couples to marry. On 11 June 2010 the parliament unanimously approved the bill. The law took effect on 27 June.
Adoption and family planning
Since 27 June 2006, Icelandic same-sex couples became eligible to a range of laws including public access to IVF insemination treatment, surrogacy and both full joint adoption and adopting your own partner's biological children.Discrimination protections
The Icelandic law prohibits discrimination and hate speech/crime based on sexual orientation since 1996.Living conditions
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
has a visible gay scene, with a couple of bars and cafés, and some places with a mixed gay and straight crowd. Elsewhere in Iceland, however, the sparse population means there is no gay scene.
Gay pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
parades in Iceland are usually held in August.
Summary table
| Same-sex sexual activity legal |  |
| Equal age of consent | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in employment | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) | |
| Same-sex marriage | |
| Recognition of same-sex unions | |
| Adoption by same-sex couples | |
| Gay people allowed to serve openly in the military | N/A (no standing army Military of Iceland Icelands defences consist of the Icelandic Coast Guard which patrols Icelandic waters and airspace and other services such as the National Commissioner's National Security and Special Forces Units.... ) |
| Right to change legal gender | |
| Equal access to IVF and surrogacy for all couples and individuals | |
| MSM Men who have sex with men Men who have sex with men are male persons who engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, regardless of how they identify themselves; many men choose not to accept sexual identities of homosexual or bisexual... s allowed to donate blood |
 |
See also
- Politics of IcelandPolitics of IcelandPolitics of Iceland takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Iceland is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. It is arguably the world's oldest parliamentary democracy. Executive power is exercised by the...
- LGBT rights in EuropeLGBT rights in EuropeLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights are widely diverse in Europe per country. Seven out of the ten countries that have legalised same-sex marriage are situated in Europe; a further fourteen European countries have legalised civil unions or other forms of recognition for same-sex couples...