The parliamentary elections or the so-called Alþingiskosningar will be held tomorrow, October the 29th, and the race is shaping up to be an exciting one with twelve parties running. But what exactly are their stance on LGBTI+ rights? To shed some light on that GayIceland asked the chairs (or spokespersons) the three following questions (repeated throughout the text to make things clear):
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter (stefnuskrá)?
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
Alþýðufylkingin (R)
The People’s Front of Iceland
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
Just a little. We oppose any discrimination on the basis of sexuality or gender. And we want to make Iceland a safe haven for people who are persecuted in their home country, we specifically mention people who are persecuted because of sexual identity or gender issues.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
Well, not LGBTI+ issues specifically. We are a young, small party founded only in 2013 and we do not have seats in parliament.
…we want to make Iceland a safe haven for people who are persecuted in their home country, we specifically mention people who are persecuted because of sexual identity or gender issues.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
We are sympathetic to the cause of LGBTI+ people but we are not specialists. We would listen to what LGBTI+ people consider important issues.
Vésteinn Valgarðsson
vice-chairman of Alþýðufylkingin (People’s Front of Iceland).
Björt framtíð (A)
Bright future
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
We are a liberal party with great emphasis and passion for human rights. We speak for diversity in our society for liberty and freedom of all humans. We are a new party and unfortunately have not completed our charter to its fullest form.
We have a human rights committee within our party working to bring forth to fruition charters and manifestos specifically regarding LGBTI+ rights and referendums which are mentioned here below (see answers to question 3).
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
Three formal actions have been submitted in the Icelandic Parliament by members of our party. The issues were queer rights to give blood, formal questioning of intersex rights and actions currently taken in the health care system here in Iceland and finally a formal protest regarding human rights violations in Russia against the LGBTI+ community.
– Brynhildur Pétursdóttir, Member of Parliament for our party, Bright future, has spoken openly in our parliament for the right for queers to give blood. Here we reference her open question to the current Minister of Health this past year.
– Regarding Intersex issues, Björt Ólafsdóttir, another current Member of Parliament, also formally and openly submitted questions about health rights for intersex children and parents of intersex children.
– Róbert Marshall, another Member of our Parliament, formally questioned the Minister of Education and Culture as to how he represented our Icelandic human rights values especially regarding queer rights when traveling to the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
It is our ambition that Iceland should be leading advocates for human rights, equal rights and peace not only within our country but with a lasting impact internationally as well and that others should follow our lead. We will work for equal rights and opportunities in all matters regarding gender, sexual orientation, nationality, and religion. We firmly believe that people should receive equal pay for the same job in all areas of the labor market. We will work with all stakeholders in bringing to fruition an agenda to bring about such equality.
We want to protect individual rights for physical privacy and ensure that equality should encompass sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex, and physical and genetic elements which are related to gender.
Specifically regarding LGBTI+ rights, Iceland is currently in the 14th seat and the Rainbow map ILGA- Europe and we find that unacceptable. We want to put forth a new bill which insures the rights for trans and intersex people. We believe that it is very important for people to be able to determine on their own without any pre-defined limits as to their sexual orientation or gender. We want to ensure this as a basic human right, gender identity should be recognized and respected. We want to protect individual rights for physical privacy and ensure that equality should encompass sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex, and physical and genetic elements which are related to gender (i.e. sex chromosomes, hormonal, gonads and genitals).
It is also our intention to increase focus on queer rights regarding having children and queer family matters. We also believe in ensuring queer rights for the elderly, as we have discovered they are subjected to prejudice, exclusion and sometimes simply ignored in society.
The Hate Crimes Department here in our capital city is taking steps forward in their work but we recognize that more must be done. We would like to see more information regarding hate crimes be accessible in order for people to respond responsibly. We would like to see more government finances be placed in law enforcement training, especially for new students in law enforcement.
We would also like to see an increase in grants for service agreements with queer rights groups.
Eva Einarsdóttir,
chair of the board of Björt framtíð (Bright future).
Dögun (T)
Dawn
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter? No, unfortunately the party has not focused directly on LGBTI+ issues although we are a party of equality, justice and democracy. Our laws state the equality of all people regardless of at least one aspect of LGBTI+: sexual preference. Our youth organization, DögUng is relatively newly founded, but it has stated the importance of sexual education in schools being propelled into the 21.st century by broadening the discussion to include the identities of LGBTI+ openly and not as separate or secondary matters.
After attending Samtökin 78’s very enlightening meeting on October 17th, our party intends to voice LGBTI+ issues in order to help make their voices heard. The party emphasizes the importance of formulating its issues based on real solutions that attack the root cause of problems. Dögun tries to do so in close co-operation with NGO’s, specialists and organizations that have acquired experience in dealing with the matter at hand. We at Dögun would like to learn more about LGBTI+ issues and concerns to better our understanding of those issues. That way we hope to aid the formulation of inclusive and informed laws and update our charter accordingly in the very near future.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
No, not yet, unfortunately, but we intend to change that. We believe that it is of utmost importance, because an ever-growing organization definitely needs a louder voice within the educational system, in congress and in society as a whole. The focus of political debate in recent years has been mainly on the rights and issues of other minority groups such as disabled people, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The issues of LGBTI+ people have been discussed a lot less and have been widely ignored and thus have their rights been neglected. That is not a democracy that Dögun supports, we would like to do our part to change that and bring awareness to these issues in order to make Iceland a better place for everyone.
Learning about LGBTI+ matters shouldn’t be a choice for teachers and other people working with children and young people, it should be a mandatory part of the curriculum.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
Dögun would focus on bringing LGBTI+ issues to the forefront of political debate and would like to make a few changes:
– That the law against discrimination be extended to sexual preference as the new constitution states, so getting the new constitution would be a step in the right direction. Having said that, the constitution needs to be rewritten to include a law against the discrimination of individuals who identify as non-gender-binary, inter-sex, polyamorous and probably a whole lot more that we at Dögun need and wish to learn more about.
– We at Dögun would like the educational system to respect and support children’s and young people’s right to use their full potential in life and to grow up happy and healthy. Seeing that children are coming out more and earlier than before as for example trans, gay or bisexual we see it as our responsibility to ensure that they and all youth have good access to sexual education that includes learning about all the different types of sexual identities and preferences there are, so they can better identify themselves and respect the different identities of other people.
Learning about LGBTI+ matters shouldn’t be a choice for teachers and other people working with children and young people, it should be a mandatory part of the curriculum.
– We at Dögun would also like to take action and responsibility for the equality of society and reduce prejudice, discrimination and aggression against minorities. We would like to put more money into the task of educating young people and the public in general about the rights and matters of LGBTI+ people in co-operation with specialists and experienced people from Samtökin ‘78.
Helga Þórðardóttir,
chair of Dögun (Dawn).
Framsókn (B)
The Progresive Party
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
The Progressive Party has in its fundamental policy charter the fight for human rights, respect for the individual and the family. Any discrimination is rejected that distinguishes between people by race, gender, language, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or political opinions. This basic policy is emphasized in the resolutions of the party which state that equality is one of the fundamental motifs in the party’s policy. The resolutions also state that equal rights are human rights and that it is important to prohibit discrimination by sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or other status. Furthermore the resolutions also claim that the family in its diversity is the basic structure of society and therein lies a reference to different family patterns, such as queer parents or any other family forms.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
Through the years the Progressive Party has maintained that LGBTI+ issues are and should be issues that cross party lines and that every party should unite about. On that basis the Progress Party has been actively involved in collaboration on these issues with other parties, for example in 2002 with the founding of a special parliamentary commission to investigate the legal status of homosexual persons and the legislative reforms that followed. More recently, the Progressive Party has been actively involved in the committee on the issues of queer people working on a proposal for an integrated action plan for improving the status of LGBTI+ people in society. Furthermore Mrs. Eygló Harðardóttir, Minister and MP for the Progressive Party, has played a leading role in policy making on government and parliament level on the issue of family and its action plan for 2017-2021 with the aim of ensuring equal rights of children regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. In 2014 Mrs. Harðardóttir also put in motion policy to receive queer refugees in Iceland.
In recent years two members of the Progressive Party have served as Foreign Minister and as such have spoken out on behalf of LGBTI+ rights in various international venues including the UN.
The main focus should be on a higher score for Iceland on the so-called rainbow map and improving the infrastructure of legal protection for LGBTI+ rights.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
The Progressives Party believes that the focus should now be on allowing the committee on LGBTI+ issues to complete its work and submit its results and suggestions to Parliament. The main focus should be on a higher score for Iceland on the so-called rainbow map and improving the infrastructure of legal protection for LGBTI+ rights.
The Progressive Party is proud to be able to boast of queer candidates in some of the party’s top seats in the upcoming election. This reflects the active role LGBTI+ people take in the Progressive Party’s functions which has always been a significant and important part of the party’s activities.
Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson,
chair of Framsókn (The Progressive Party).
Húmanistaflokkurinn (H)
The Humanist Party
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
Yes, the Humanist Party rejects any form of discrimination.
The Humanist Party’s political program is based on freedom and human rights. Human rights are something which each and every human being should be entitled to, irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, language, opinions, nationality, relations or any other circumstances.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
Yes, the Humanist Party has supported the fight for the rights of gay people both here in Iceland and internationally in countries where the Humanist Party is active, for instance in countries where the treatment of gay people is very bad. Examples of this are found for instance in some African countries where being gay is punished by long prison sentences or even death.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
The Humanist Party does not consider it to be the task for government to support just any type of organisations, but we think that it should call for democratic participation of the general public when deciding their annual budget.
Furthermore we emphasize that the government should provide financial support to organisations which are fighting for human rights like Samtökin ’78 so they can do their task effectively.
Furthermore we emphasize that the government should provide financial support to organisations which are fighting for human rights like Samtökin ’78 so they can do their task effectively.
But we humanists want to go much further. The government should officially denounce bad treatment of gay people in countries where the situation is worst, like in countries where people are put to prison for being gay or even executed. The government should also encourage other nations to do the same and work for an international push to promote human rights for gay people in all countries.
Such an official attitude by the government would in itself contribute to a better condition for gay people in this country because it would draw attention of the general public to this subject and it will challenge us as a nation to show a good example to the world by improving rights and attitudes towards gay people in Iceland.
Júlíus Valdimarsson,
chair of Húmanistaflokkurinn (The Humanist Party).
Píratar (Þ)
The Pirate Party
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
The core policy (charter) of the pirates does not explicitly mention the rights of any specific group, however it does have the following phraseology that touches on current issues facing in-particular trans and intersex related issues in Iceland:
4. Transparency and responsibility
4.6 Pirates believe that everyone has an unlimited right to be involved in decisions that relate to their own affairs, and a right to knowledge about how such decisions are made.
5. Freedom of information and expression
5.2 Any limits to people’s freedom to express themselves are unacceptable, except for the purpose of protecting the rights of individuals.
6. Direct democracy and the right to self-determination
6.1 Pirates believe that everyone has an unlimited right to be involved in decisions that relate to their own affairs.
These three points and the charter in its entirely work to guarantee the rights of society’s weakest and strengthen core liberties to allow for equal rights, equal access and respect for all.
Further, the Pirate Party in Iceland has three policies relating to equality; core policy on equality, equal pay and as relating to stereotyping. All of these policies safeguard the civil rights and liberties of all regardless of gender identity or expression to equal access and rights.
The issues of real concern for the Pirate Party are in particular trans people’s rights and education, the latter being both education in schools emphasizing diversity, tolerance and respect.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
The Pirate Party in Iceland has not yet had the opportunity to take on LGBTQI+ issues in parliament. However, the Pirate Party is supportive to the efforts of other parties working on draft bills to better secure the rights of LGBTQI+ people. As the draft looks today, the Pirate Party looks forward to working with other parties make the current draft bill even more inclusive to intersex rights.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
The issues of real concern for the Pirate Party are in particular trans people’s rights and education, the latter being both education in schools emphasizing diversity, tolerance and respect. As well as acknowledgingg “third” sex option (i.e. non-binary etc.) in public registries and offices, allowing for passports and other documents to have further options. The Pirate Party has specific policy to trans people’s rights. It aims to modify current law 57/2012 to: further empower individuals undertaking transitional surgery, change the binary nature of the language in the law and allow for equal subsidization of treatment drugs.
Oktavía Hrund Jónsdóttir,
candidate for Píratar (The Pirate Party).
Samfylkingin (S)
The Social Democratic Alliance
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
You bet.
Both in the Manifesto from when the party was founded in the year 2000, as well as subsequent policy documents. In 2015 the Party Congress adopted a specific resolution covering many pressing LGBTI+ issues; including more rights for trans and intersex people, third gender, blood donations of men who have sex with men, making international adoption possible for same-sex couples and making sure that in international relations Iceland actively speaks up for LGBTI+ rights.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
Oh yes.
Samfylkingin representatives have again and again taken the lead when it comes to the rights of these groups. Some examples include the following.
– 2015: Community of Hafnarfjörður, and later Kópavogur, Garðabær, Hveragerði, Mosfellsbær and Selfoss, agrees on offering LGBTI+ training/education (tabled by various Samfylkingin representatives, 19-year-old Eva Lín Vilhjálmsdóttir the first one)
– 2014: Parliamentary resolution on supporting the struggle of LGBTI+ people in Uganda (tabled by Össur Skarphéðinsson, PM of Samfylkingin)
– 2012: First legislation on rights of trans people adopted (Initiative of Welfare Minister Guðbjartur Hannesson of Samfylkingin)
– 2010: Gay marriage legalized (Under coalition government of PM Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir of Samfylkingin)
– 2009: First in the world openly gay person becomes leader of a country (Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir of Samfylkingin)
– 2005: The capital city Reykjavík makes a service agreement with Samtökin ’78 (Under Mayor Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir of Samfylkingin )
– 2003: Parliamentary resolution on the legal status of gay people (Tabled by Guðrún Ögmundsdóttir, MP of Samfylkingin).
Samfylkingin further wants to introduce a third or undetermined gender into Icelandic legislation for non gender-binary people (we are aware of that this is complex and has to be done in full cooperation with trans and intersex representatives…).
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
It is simply unacceptable that LGBTI+ teenagers feel worse than other teenagers just because they’re gay, lesbian, bi, trans, intersex or in other ways don’t fit old stereotypes.
I would like to see a wholistic policy and action plan formed by Icelandic authorities, portraying a longer-term vision. Iceland also has further work to do on securing the legal status of LGBTI+ people, including against discrimination – which should have been finished long ago.
Samfylkingin wants to find ways to secure the bodily integrity of intersex children so that they themselves are the ones to decide whether medical intervention is needed. We want to revise the legislation on trans issues and stop defining trans issues as a mental disorder, while at the same time securing that medical assistance to trans people is included in the public health care system. Samfylkingin further wants to introduce a third or undetermined gender into Icelandic legislation for non gender-binary people (we are aware of that this is complex and has to be done in full cooperation with trans and intersex representatives, as is the lesson from Germany). We want to actively push for an adoption agreement with a country that allows same-sex couples to adopt. Samfylkingin will also continue to push Iceland to be a strong voice for LGBTI+ issues internationally. Last but not least, we want the new Icelandic constitution to explicitly cover equality not just based on sexual orientation as was suggested by the Constitutional Council, but also gender identity.
Oddný Harðarsdóttir,
chair of Samfylkingin (The Social Democratic Alliance).
Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (D)
The Icelandic Independence Party
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
The individuals’ freedom to be whoever they are, love whomever they love and live their live without prejudice or restrictions from the government, is important to me. It is my profound belief that a free society promotes diversity and respect.
I am therefore proud to belong to a party that has supported those rights and participated in significant legislative changes to secure LGBTI+ people’s place in the society.
The following passages are from the Party’s manifesto:
The Independence Party has sponsored bills that have increased the rights of LGBTI+ people to adopt children and to enter into marriage. The Party should continue to be leading in LGBTI+ rights. Lesbian non-biological mothers should not have to provide a proof of parenthood to Register in Iceland.
The Independence Party wants blood donors to be evaluated based on their health records and not their sexual orientation. The Party strongly encourages The Icelandic Blood Bank to reconsider its stance towards gay men.
Processes and procedures within the healthcare system in terms of trans and intersex people should be reviewed. Laws need to be changed to reflect the human rights of these groups better.
Processes and procedures within the healthcare system in terms of trans and intersex people should be reviewed. Laws need to be changed to reflect the human rights of these groups better.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
The Party has been leading in all aspects of LGBTI+ rights for more than thirty years. These are some of the milestones that have been reached by the parliament while the Independence Party has been in government:
– 1985: Changes were made to an article in the Penal Code that had been used against homosexual men in the past.
– 1992: A resolution was passed that stipulated that a committee should be formed by the Prime Minister that would write a report on gay people’s position in the community that would form a basis for the necessary changes to the legislation going forward.
– 1996: All discrimination based on gender or sexual inclinations were removed from the Penal Code.
– 1996: Introduction of Civil Unions. Same sex couples were allowed to enter into a civil union. The legislation made Iceland the most progressive country in Northern Europe in terms of gay rights.
– 2000: Discrimination based on sexual inclination was made illegal.
– 2003: Gay parents were allowed to adopt their stepchildren.
– 2003: A resolution was passed to form a new committee on gay rights.
– 2014: A resolution was passed to form yet another committee on LGBTI+ rights in cooperation with LGBTI+ activists and experts in the field.
– 2014: Discrimination against trans people made illegal.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
The right of the individual to freedom and self-realization has been the core of the Independence Party’s values since the Party was founded in 1929. LGBTI+ rights are intrinsic to these values. There is always an ongoing discussion within the Independence Party on how laws can be changed in order to reflect the human rights of these groups better. We fully acknowledge that the struggles of the LGBTI+ community is not over in Iceland, especially in regards to trans and intersex people.The Independence Party will continue to stay committed to further the LGBTI+ cause.
If the Independence Party will continue to be in government after the elections it will continue to be leading in this respect.
Bjarni Benediktsson,
chair of Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (The Icelandic Independence Party).
Viðreisn (C)
Reform Party
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
Yes, we do mention LGBTQIA+ people in our party’s charter. It is in the chapter on equality, where it says: Viðreisn supports LGBTQIA+ people’s fight for equal rights. The party is an advocate for freedom, human rights and equal status and wants Iceland to be a leading country when it comes to the equality of LGBTQIA+ people. Legislation should be modernized and we will ensure support to LGBTQIA+ education for public professions.
Amongst the things we would like to do is making genital surgeries on intersex children illegal until they can make the decision for themselves.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
Since Viðreisn did not exist when the last parliamentary elections took place, we have not been able to influence legislation – so far. Our youth group took part in Reykjavík Pride and some of our members have contributed to local queer activism.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
We would like to correct some outdated laws to ensure equal status for LGBTQIA+ people in Iceland. Amongst the things we would like to do is making genital surgeries on intersex children illegal until they can make the decision for themselves.
Benedikt Jóhannesson,
chair of Viðreisn (Reform Party).
Vinstri græn (V)
The Left-Green Movement
1. Are LGBTI+ issues mentioned in the party’s charter?
Several resolutions concerning LGBTI+ issues have been passed at our national meetings, concerning rights and harrassment and, not least, increased emphasis on education concerning LGBTI+ issues in the general school system and in society as a whole.
2. Has the party contributed to the issues of LGBTI+ people?
During the party’s time in government new gender-neutral marriage laws were passed in 2010, with Icelandic becoming the ninth country in the world to pass such laws. We have also worked on several projects, in government, parliament and in local communities, concerning education on LBGTI+ issues.
Our first project concerning LGBTI+ issues would be a new legislation focusing on the rights of trans and intersex individuals.
3. If the party were to become part of the next government, exactly what LGBTI+ issues would it focus on?
Our first project concerning LGBTI+ issues would be a new legislation focusing on the rights of trans and intersex individuals. We have already prepared a draft of such a bill in close co-operation with representatives from this group. Furthermore, the constitution currently under construction needs to be reassessed to better reflect LGBTI+ issues. We see it as important for the government to participate in countering binary thinking concerning gender and sexuality and it needs to take further steps to recognise the fluidity of gender.
Katrín Jakobsdóttir,
chair of Vinstri Græn (The Left-Green Movement).
Despite several requests the political parties Flokkur fólksins (The People’s Party) and Íslenska Þjóðfylkingin (The Icelandic National Front) did not reply to GayIceland’s questions.