Iceland, the tiny island country of 320,000 people in the North Atlantlc, will likely be the next nation to legalize same-sex marriage. Openly lesbian prime minister Johanna Sigurdardóttir presented a revision to current marriage law to the Icelandic parliament on March 23. The revision is widely expected to become law, and if (or when) it does, the first same-sex marriages could happen as early as June 27, 2010, the date of Gay Pride in the capital city of Reykjavík.Since 1996, Iceland has had a legal domestic partnership registry for heterosexual and homosexual couples. Gay and lesbian equality was further stengthened in 2006 with laws guaranteeing the same social rights as heterosexuals to lesbian and gay men in the spheres of social security, taxation, labor, and other social services. Currently, registered same-sex couples also have the same access to adoption as heterosexuals who are married or in registered domestic partnerships.In addition to the change in marriage law, parliamentarians are also considering expanding the rules on assisted reproduction to allow single women access to the various techniques for artificial insemination. Current Icelandic law allows only couples, including lesbian couples, to participate in assisted reproduction programs.Despite its size, Iceland is a dynamic nation, and this includes its landscape. The recent eruption of a volcano in the remote area of Fimmvörðuháls has created a new mountain. Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs Katrín Jakobsdóttir has convened a committee to assist in naming the new landmark, but they are also seeking suggestions from the public. We think that the name of the new mountain should in some way commemorate the Icelandic commitment to equality for gays and lesbians. Suggestions can be sent to the Ministry here
Gay Pride in Reykjavik is unlike almost anywhere else – Held this Saturday, the event was FIERCE. Often called ‘the biggest little Pride in the world’, it attracts as many as one-in-three of Iceland’s entire population out onto the streets to support LGBT rights specifically, and equality in society more generally. Icelands Prime Minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir is openly gay.Tourists visit Iceland specially for Pride – and in 2009 they seem more numerous than ever as the low rate of the Icelandic krona is making Iceland cheaper to visit than before. More that 90.000 thousand people showed up for the event on Saturday. At 90,000 that is pretty much one third of everyone, since the total population of Iceland is just above 300.000 thousand people.Further Gay Pride details are at www.gaypride.is and general details on visiting Iceland are available at www.visiticeland.com. Photos By http://www.pbase.com
Iceland, the tiny island country of 320,000 people in the North Atlantlc, will likely be the next nation to legalize same-sex marriage. Openly lesbian prime minister Johanna Sigurdardóttir presented a revision to current marriage law to the Icelandic parliament on March 23. The revision is widely expected to become law, and if (or when) it does, the first same-sex marriages could happen as early as June 27, 2010, the date of Gay Pride in the capital city of Reykjavík.
Since 1996, Iceland has had a legal domestic partnership registry for heterosexual and homosexual couples. Gay and lesbian equality was further stengthened in 2006 with laws guaranteeing the same social rights as heterosexuals to lesbian and gay men in the spheres of social security, taxation, labor, and other social services. Currently, registered same-sex couples also have the same access to adoption as heterosexuals who are married or in registered domestic partnerships.
In addition to the change in marriage law, parliamentarians are also considering expanding the rules on assisted reproduction to allow single women access to the various techniques for artificial insemination. Current Icelandic law allows only couples, including lesbian couples, to participate in assisted reproduction programs.
Despite its size, Iceland is a dynamic nation, and this includes its landscape. The recent eruption of a volcano in the remote area of Fimmvörðuháls has created a new mountain. Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs Katrín Jakobsdóttir has convened a committee to assist in naming the new landmark, but they are also seeking suggestions from the public. We think that the name of the new mountain should in some way commemorate the Icelandic commitment to equality for gays and lesbians. Suggestions can be sent to the Ministry here
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