LGBT rights in Iceland

LGBT rights in Iceland

Location of  LGBT rights in Iceland  (dark green)

in Europe  (dark grey)  —  [Legend]

Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 1940,
age of consent equalized in 1992
Gender identity/expression Change legal gender allowed
Recognition of
relationships
Same-sex marriage since 2010
Adoption Both full joint and step-child adoption allowed
Military service No standing army
Discrimination protections Sexual orientation protections (see below)

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.[1]

Contents

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Law criminalizing same-sex sexual activity was repealed in 1940.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.[2]

Recognition of same-sex unions

Registered partnerships for same-sex couples became legal in 1996.[3][4][5] 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.[6][7][8][9] On 11 June 2010 the parliament unanimously approved the bill.[10][11] The law took effect on 27 June.[12]

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.[13]

Discrimination protections

The Icelandic law prohibits discrimination and hate speech/crime based on sexual orientation since 1996.[2]

Living conditions

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.[14]

Gay pride parades in Iceland are usually held in August.[14]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal (since 1940)
Equal age of consent (since 1992)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services (since 1996)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) (since 1996)
Same-sex marriage (since 2010)
Recognition of same-sex unions (since 1996)
Adoption by same-sex couples (since 2006)
Gay people allowed to serve openly in the military N/A (no standing army)
Right to change legal gender
Equal access to IVF and surrogacy for all couples and individuals (since 2006)
MSMs allowed to donate blood[15]

See also

LGBT portal
Human rights portal
Iceland portal

Notes

  1. ^ Iceland parliament votes for gay marriage
  2. ^ a b Homosexuality and the Law - Fragments of Icelandic History
  3. ^ "Iceland : Recognized partnership law, 1996". France.qrd.org. 1 July 1996. http://www.france.qrd.org/texts/partnership/is/iceland-bill.html. Retrieved 14 August 2010. 
  4. ^ "Partnership Law In Iceland". France.qrd.org. http://www.france.qrd.org/assocs/ilga/euroletter/42.html#Iceland. Retrieved 14 August 2010. 
  5. ^ "Important Improvements in Gay and Lesbian Rights in Iceland". Ilga-europe.org. 12 June 2006. http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide/country_by_country/iceland/important_improvements_in_gay_and_lesbian_rights_in_iceland. Retrieved 14 August 2010. 
  6. ^ Iceland Likely to Permit Gay Marriage by June
  7. ^ Iceland is fine-tuning marriage-equality bill
  8. ^ "Frumvarp til laga um breytingar á hjúskaparlögum og fleiri lögum og um brottfall laga um staðfesta samvist (ein hjúskaparlög)". Alþingi. http://www.althingi.is/altext/138/s/0836.html. Retrieved 24 March 2010. 
  9. ^ Hjúskaparlög, staðfest samvist o.fl. (ein hjúskaparlög)
  10. ^ Iceland parliament votes for gay marriage
  11. ^ Iceland passes gay marriage law in unanimous vote
  12. ^ "New gay marriage law in Iceland comes into force". Icenews.is. http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2010/06/28/new-gay-marriage-law-in-iceland-comes-into-force/. Retrieved 14 August 2010. 
  13. ^ "Important Improvements in Gay and Lesbian Rights in Iceland". Ilga-europe.org. 12 June 2006. http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide/country_by_country/iceland/important_improvements_in_gay_and_lesbian_rights_in_iceland. Retrieved 14 August 2010. 
  14. ^ a b Gay Iceland
  15. ^ http://www.dv.is/frettir/2010/6/16/mega-giftast-en-ekki-gefa-blod/