Norðurland eystra is governed by federal Iceland law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, no restrictions
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✔ Legal
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✔ Recognized
    Discrimination
    ✔ Illegal
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✔ Full ban
    Military
    N/A
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    ✔ Banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Norðurland eystra

?

Homosexual activity in Norðurland eystra is legal.

Current status
Since Aug 10, 1940
Legal
The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality; removing the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.
Details
Sources:
gaypride.is/Index/English/A…
coe.int/t/Commissioner/Sour…
althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940… e
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Same-sex marriage in Norðurland eystra

?

Same-sex marriage in Norðurland eystra is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 27, 2010
Legal
Iceland granted marriage equality to gay and lesbian couples on June 27, 2010, making it the ninth country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage.
Details
Sources:
queer.pl/news/206755/parada…
icenews.is/2010/06/11/icela…
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Jun 27, 1996–Jun 27, 2010
Civil unions (marriage rights)
Iceland has recognized same sex registered partnerships, giving them all rights and duties of marriage. A ban on same sex adoption was lifted in 2006.
Details
Sources:
althingi.is/thingstorf/thin…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Norðurland eystra

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Norðurland eystra is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Iceland, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Sources:
queer.pl/news/206755/parada…
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Right to change legal gender in Norðurland eystra

?

Right to change legal gender in Norðurland eystra is legal, no restrictions.

Current status
Since Jun 18, 2019
Legal, no restrictions
A new law has been passed that allows Icelandic people to change their registered gender without medical interventions.
Details
Sources:
queer.pl/news/206755/parada…
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Gender-affirming care in Norðurland eystra

?

Gender-affirming care in Norðurland eystra is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 18, 2019
Legal
The Act on Gender Autonomy No. 80/2019 grants every person the right gender affirming care. Children aged under 16 require parental consent.
Details
Sources:
government.is/topics/human-…
government.is/publications/…
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1975–Jun 18, 2019
Restricted under federal Iceland law
In 1975, Iceland legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
Details
Sources:
rhsupplies.org/uploads/tx_r…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Norðurland eystra

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Norðurland eystra is recognized.

Current status
Since Jun 18, 2019
Recognized
The new law also allows people to register a third gender option 'X' as their legal gender.
Details
Sources:
icelandreview.com/news/icel…
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LGBT discrimination in Norðurland eystra

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LGBT discrimination in Norðurland eystra is illegal.

Current status
Illegal under federal Iceland law
Laws in force in Iceland offer explicit protection against LGBT discrimination in the provision of goods and services, employment and education and can be applied for housing too.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/iceland-lgbti
queerintheworld.com/lgbt-ri…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Norðurland eystra

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Norðurland eystra is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1996
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Under Icelandic Criminal Code.
Details
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LGBT housing discrimination in Norðurland eystra

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Norðurland eystra is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jul 27, 2010
Sexual orientation and gender identity
In Iceland, homosexual and heterosexual relationships are treated the same under housing laws. Individuals are not allowed to deny a person housing with homophobic or transphobic motivations. This came along with Act 65, The Amending Act which legalized gay marriage.
Details
Sources:
coe.int/t/Commissioner/Sour…
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Same-sex adoption in Norðurland eystra

?

Same-sex adoption in Norðurland eystra is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 27, 2006
Legal
Legal since 2006
Details
Sources:
Cleaning up after a troll
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Intersex infant surgery in Norðurland eystra

?

Intersex infant surgery in Norðurland eystra is full ban.

Current status
Since Jun 18, 2019
Full ban
The Act on Gender Autonomy No. 80/2019 strictly prohibits surgery on intersex infants, and requires public bodies to allow a neutral gender to be registered. The act further states that any such surgery can only be performed with the individual's consent.
Details
Sources:
government.is/topics/human-…
government.is/publications/…
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Serving openly in military in Norðurland eystra

?

Serving openly in military in Norðurland eystra is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Iceland does not have a military.
Details
Sources:
government.is/topics/foreig…~:text=Iceland%20is%20a%20country%20without,Nations%2C%20NATO%20and%20the%20OSCE.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Norðurland eystra

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Blood donations by MSMs in Norðurland eystra is banned (indefinite deferral).

A new law will be going into effect in 5 months.
Going into effect Jul 1, 2025
Legal under federal Iceland law
In October 2024, Iceland announced that it will be revising it's blood donation laws to allow queer men to donate blood with the same restrictions as straight men. According to Axel Helgi Ívarsson, Iceland has wanted to make this change since 2018, but due to a lack of adequate research funding it has taken until now.
Details
Sources:
visir.is/g/20242630552d/lok…

europeancorrespondent.com/r…
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Current status
Until Jul 1, 2025
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Iceland bans men who have sex with men from donating blood.
Details
Sources:
landspitali.is/library/Same… - Most accurate as of Jan 2025

pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/04/i… gayiceland.is/2014/wants-bl… www.blodbankinn.is
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Conversion therapy in Norðurland eystra

?

Conversion therapy in Norðurland eystra is banned.

Current status
Since Jun 9, 2023
Banned
The Icelandic parliament has passed a law banning so-called conversion therapy practices on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity.
Details
Sources:
thepinknews.com/2023/06/10/…

althingi.is/thingstorf/thin…
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Until Jun 9, 2023
Not banned
Conversion therapy ban pending.
Details
Sources:
No sources
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Equal age of consent in Norðurland eystra

?

Equal age of consent in Norðurland eystra is equal.

Current status
Equal
The age of consent in Iceland is 15 for both male-male, female-female, and male-female couples.
Details
Sources:
gayice.is/gay-guide/faqs
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Equality Index ?
94 / 100
Legal Rights
98 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Norðurland eystra to help improve its accuracy.

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