BDSM should be removed from the list of mental disorders, agrees The Director of Health for Iceland. A great victory for us, says The Chairman of The Icelandic BDSM association.
The Director of Health for Iceland, Birgir Jakobsson, says there’s nothing that prevents Iceland from following the footsteps of other Nordic countries and removing BDSM from its list of mental illnesses, reports RÚV. He intends to meet with the chairman of the Icelandic BDSM association in order to do that – and in a manner the members see fit.
This is the director’s response to a letter RÚV, the national broadcasting company, sent him earlier today, after GayIceland reported that Iceland is the only Nordic country that still lists BDSM as a mental illness. BDSM in this instance referring to “Dual-role transvestism, Fetishism, Fetishistic transvestism, and sado-masochism”.
Denmark was the first country to remove BDSM from its list in 1994-1995. Followed, by Sweden in 2009, Norway in 2010 and Finland in 2012. In its letter to the Director of Health for Iceland, dated September 3rd, the Icelandic BDSM association, requested it would do the same.
“We’re just all so exhilarated about the news, we just can’t believe it.”
Asked why Iceland is the only Nordic State that hasn’t done so, The Director says in his reply to RÚV, that the matter just hasn’t been on the agenda of the Nordic collaboration since he took office.
However, he says he agrees with the opinion voiced in the BDSM association’s letter, and doesn’t see any reason why BDSM couldn’t be removed from the The Directorate of Health list’s of mental disorders.
But how does the chairman of the Icelandic BDSM association feel about the turn of events?
“I’m speechless, just utterly speechless at the moment,” says Magnús Hákonarson. “We’re just all so exhilarated about the news, we just can’t believe it.”
Are you optimistic that you and the Director of Health will reach a good conclusion?
“In light of his response, then I see no reason why we shouldn’t.”