Norðurland vestra 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 in some contexts
    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 vestra

?

Homosexual activity in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

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Same-sex marriage in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

?

Right to change legal gender in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

?

Gender-affirming care in Norðurland vestra 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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1996–Jun 18, 2019
Legal
In 1996, Iceland adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
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Legal, but restricted for minors
In 1981, Iceland adopted the ICD-9 classification, which included codes allowing for the diagnosis of transsexualism in adults.
Details
Sources:
ourworldindata.org/grapher/…
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Restricted
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 vestra

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

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LGBT discrimination in Norðurland vestra is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Illegal in some contexts
Laws in force in Iceland offer explicit protection against LGBT discrimination in the provision of goods and services, employment and education.

There is no legal broad protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Law No. 74 on the Rights of Patients (1997) does not include "sexual orientation and/or gender identity" among the protected grounds from discrimination. There is no explicit legal protection in housing.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/iceland-lgbti
coe.int/t/Commissioner/Sour…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Norðurland vestra

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LGBT employment discrimination in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

?

Same-sex adoption in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

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Intersex infant surgery in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

?

Serving openly in military in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

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

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2022
Banned (indefinite deferral)
In September 2021 it was announced that gay and bi men would legally be able to donate blood after a deferral period of 4 months. It was stated to be effective from January 2022, but has yet to be effectively enforced.
Details
Sources:
aabb.org/news-resources/new…
visir.is/g/20232414007d/sam…
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Until Dec 31, 2021
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Iceland bans men who have sex with men from donating blood.
Details
Sources:
pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/04/i… gayiceland.is/2014/wants-bl… www.blodbankinn.is
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Conversion therapy in Norðurland vestra

?

Conversion therapy in Norðurland vestra 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 vestra

?

Equal age of consent in Norðurland vestra 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 ?
93 / 100
Legal Rights
95 / 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 vestra to help improve its accuracy.

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