Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 22:26:02 +0200 (MET DST) From: skolander@bahnhof.se (Bjoern Skolander) Subject: A VICTORY FOR ICELANDIC LESBIANS AND GAYS I am distributing this official press release on behalf of Samtoekin '78. They request that we distribute it to local newspapers, television stations, radio and other appropriate media organisations. By distributing this message to several "related" mailing lists, I am violating my principle to avoid cross-posting. In celebration of Iceland's gay men and lesbians I hope you are able to forgive me that step. Bjoern Skolander ------------------------------------------------------ Samtoekin '78 The Icelandic Organisation of Lesbians and Gay Men Reykjavik, ICELAND Tel: +354 552 8539 Fax +354 552 7525 A VICTORY FOR ICELANDIC LESBIANS AND GAYS Icelanders lead the way in the improved legislation for lesbians and gays Parliament in Iceland - the Althingi - has passed a law on the cohabitation of people of the same gender, so-called Registered Partnership. On 27 June, Gay Pride Day, Icelandic lesbians and gays gain the right to enter into marriage before the law. The minister of justice introduced the bill in parliament and while the new law is similar to those passed in Norway, Denmark and Sweden, it also gives gay couples joint custody of the children of either partner. Both partners then become the children's guardians and should the natural parent die, the other partner - the children's step parent - automatically becomes their sole guardian. Nowhere have gay couples had such rights up to now. In addition to this the parliament is scheduled to change several provisions in the criminal law, making it a punishable offence to defame or persecute gays and lesbians in public. Though a great victory has been won, the new law differs in some ways from the general laws on marriage. It does not permit the adoption of children by gay or lesbian couples, nor does it provide for the right to artificial insemination. In addition, the law only permits gay and lesbian couples to confirm their partnership in a civil ceremony; this in light of the Church of Iceland's firm opposition to church marriages of gay and lesbian couples. The new law enjoys the support of all political parties represented in parliament and only one member voted against the bill which was introduced by the minister of justice, Thorsteinn P=E1lsson of the the conservative Independence Party which is Iceland's largest political party. INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY Samtoekin '78, the Organisation of Lesbians and Gay Men in Iceland, has played a key role in the struggle to improve the legal standing of lesbians and gays. The existence of this organisation has made it easier for homosexuals in Iceland to come out of the closet, which can be especially difficult in a small society of only 270.000 inhabitants. Currently there is a number of people of all ages out of the closet, ready to proclaim their right to live as gays or lesbians in Iceland. - On 27 June lesbians and gays in this country begin their march into the next century, says Margr=E9t P=E1la =D3lafsd=F3ttir, the present= chairman of Samtoekin '78 who has led the movement in the last years. - Admittedly we are disappointed that the new law does not allow for adoption as we had hoped and as many parliamentarians were ready to accept it would. We are happy, that Iceland has gone further than other countries in granting us joint custody of our children. We should also remember that not so long ago Icelandic gays and lesbians had to leave the country in order to lead an openly gay life. In a certain sense we are now returning from exile, but the struggle goes on. If we continue to work as well as we have done for the last fifteen years we will eventually convince the legislature of our right to adopt children just as other Icelandic couples do. A LONG AND HARD STRUGGLE A long strugle preceded the present victory. A parliamentary motion protesting discrimination against lesbians and gays was first put to the Althingi in 1985 at the behest of Samtoekin '78. It did not pass due to the 'non-importance of the matter', to quote the parliamentary committee concerned. Times have changed, however, and following an increasingly open debate about homosexuality and homosexuals in the Icelandic media, attitudes have become more positive and have moved in the direction of greater tolerance. A new motion was put to parliament in 1992 and unanimously passed. A committee was set up to investigate the position of lesbians and gays in Iceland and to return an opinion that would become the basis for new legislation. Samt=F6kin '78 had representatives on this committee. The first legislative victory was also won in 1992, when the section of the criminal code dealing with sexual offences was changed. All special articles concerning homosexual activity were abolished and a common age of consent, fourteen years, was established for homosexuals and heterosexuals alike. Now, four years later, lesbians and gays are to get their own marriage laws as well as changes to the criminal code that help them defend themselves against persecution and public defamation. Althingi - the world's oldest parliament - has answered the call of the times. PS: The following names are containing acute accents: 1. 'a' in Palsson=20 2. 'e' in Margr=E9t; the first 'a' in Pala, and both 'o's in =D3lafsd=F3ttir and further: the 'oe' in Samtoekin should be an 'o' with two dots over it. ****************************************************************************** * To subscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: subscribe queerplanet * * To unsubscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe queerplanet * * Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! * ******************************************************************************