Three Cheers For Iceland!

While we continue to bicker over the existence of an antiquated law (IPC 377) in courts. Allow human rights violation by the very protectors of law in the form of torture, extortion & abuse on Gay men. Not flinch a muscle on reading stories of increase in lesbian suicides. Watch helpless young girls get beaten up in the name of propagating the so-called ‘pub-culture’ in the comforts of our living rooms. And then continue to have the chalta hai India hai attitude when the ones responsible for such gruesomeness, walk away scot free.

Here’s what Iceland has been upto.

Icelandic Social Affairs Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir would be the world’s first openly gay leader if she becomes Prime Minister of Iceland, as is widely expected. Although Per-Kristian Foss served as acting Prime Minister in Norway very briefly in 2002, this represents the first time that a gay leader would assume the reins of a modern state. Sigurdardottir would also become the first female Prime Minister in Iceland’s history.

Sigurdardottir, 66, has a long background in Icelandic liberal politics. She has been a member of Althingi (the Parliament) since 1978, was Minister of Social Affairs in 1987 until 1994, and again in 2007. She is one of the most popular politicians in the country; in a recent Gallup poll 73 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with her work. She is also the only minister whose popularity had increased compared to a similar poll undertaken in December 2007.

“No one has ever talked about Johanna (Icelanders always use first names) as a gay person,” an Icelandic friend and a prominent journalist told me this morning. “She’s not hiding it either, the name of her spouse is on her Parliament and Ministry web pages, it’s just that nobody cares about it, any more than people cared in 1980, when Vigdis Finnbogadottir ran for president, that she was a woman and a single mother to boot. [Link]

Fucking hell brilliant, I say. In midst economic crisis, breakdown of financial system and all time high unemployment rate; the people of Iceland have managed to keep their heads very much on their shoulders. No shitiness over gender, caste, colour and sexual orientation, only criteria (as stated), the best person for the job.

Now I know where I am heading. Canada nope, Iceland yes. But only after Johanna Sigurdardottir is elected and gets done with cleaning up the mess.

Comments

No comments yet. Add your own »

Leave a comment

Comment Guidelines: Backing up your opinion with your real name adds more credibility to it. Your email address will not displayed. Your comment may be held up for moderation. Language that is deemed unsuitable for decent discussion will be expunged. Avoid pasting raw URLs or large quotations from elsewhere. The opinions expressed here are those of the respective individuals. We reserve the right to take down irrelevant and improper comments without any notice.

Gaysi Community

Meet fellow Gaysi's, get advice, ask questions, debate.

Join Now »

Gaysi Podcast

We talk. A lot. Queer and everything that comes with it.

Advertisement / Advertise here

Recent comments

Top commenters

  • Rashmi 282

  • Lady Jughead 214

  • Shri 189

  • Chicklet 154

  • La Vida Loca 152

Polls

Marriage of Convenience : Do You Endorse?

View Results

loading Marriage of Convenience : Do You Endorse?  Loading ...

Click here to continue reading »

More Polls »

About

Gaysi is a space where the Desi-Gay community comes together and shares personal stories, their triumphs and failures, their struggles and their dreams, their hopes and despair. And in doing so, gives other gaysis a sliver of hope too. More

Team Gaysi

Talk

Share your story, send links, ask a question, give suggestions or just say 'hello'.
Complete confidentiality is assured.

captcha