LGBT rights in the Faroe Islands
Encyclopedia
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the Faroe Islands may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT
residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in the Faroe Islands
, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
. At that time the age of consent
was set at 18 for same-sex relations. Then in 1988, the age of consent became gender-neutral and equal at 15.
, the capital.
On 15 December 2006, in a 17–15 vote, Faroese legislators included the words "sexual orientation" in the islands' anti-discrimination law.
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the Faroe Islands since 1933 when it was decriminalized in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. At that time the age of consent
Age of consent
While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes, when used in relation to sexual activity, the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. The European Union calls it the legal age for sexual...
was set at 18 for same-sex relations. Then in 1988, the age of consent became gender-neutral and equal at 15.
Discrimination protections and hate crimes
Discrimination against gays and lesbians on the islands is rare but became a hot topic in 2006 after Rasmus Rasmussen, a 25-year-old openly gay musician and popular radio host, allegedly was assaulted by five men in TórshavnTórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
, the capital.
On 15 December 2006, in a 17–15 vote, Faroese legislators included the words "sexual orientation" in the islands' anti-discrimination law.
Summary table
| Same-sex sexual activity legal |  |
| Equal age of consent | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in employment | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services | |
| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) | |
| Same-sex marriage(s) |  |
| Recognition of same-sex couples | |
| Adoption by same-sex couples | |
| Gays allowed to serve in the military | |
| Right to change legal gender | |
| Access to IVF for lesbians | |
| Gays allowed to donate blood | |
See also
- Politics of the Faroe IslandsPolitics of the Faroe IslandsPolitics of the Faroe Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The Faroe Islands are politically associated with the Kingdom of Denmark, but...
- LGBT rights in EuropeLGBT rights in EuropeLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights are widely diverse in Europe per country. Seven out of the ten countries that have legalised same-sex marriage are situated in Europe; a further fourteen European countries have legalised civil unions or other forms of recognition for same-sex couples...