LGBT rights in Greenland
| LGBT rights in Greenland | |
|---|---|
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| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Legal since 1933, age of consent equalized in 1977 (Danish law) |
| Gender identity/expression | – |
| Military service | Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly (Joint Defence Command) |
| Discrimination protections | Sexual orientation protections (see below) |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
Registered partnership since 1996 |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights in Greenland are very similar to those in Denmark. Same-sex sexual activity is legal, with an equal age of consent, and there are broad anti-discrimination laws. Furthermore, same-sex couples have access to registered partnerships, which provide them with nearly all of the rights provided to married opposite-sex couples.
In 1979, Denmark granted Greenland autonomy under the Home Rule Act and in 2009 extended self-government, although it still influences the island's culture and politics.
Contents
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity[edit]
As is the case with Denmark, same-sex sexual activity is not a crime.[1] It was legalized by Denmark in 1933, and age of consent equalized in 1977, two years prior to the Home Rule Act.
Recognition of same-sex relationships[edit]
Greenland adopted Denmark's registered partnership law on 1 July 1996.[2] Registered partnerships are called nalunaarsukkamik inooqatigiinneq in Greenlandic.
A resolution,[3] expressing Greenland's wish to opt in the current version of Denmark's marriage law, had its first reading in the parliament of Greenland on 25 March 2015[4] and was approved unanimously on second reading on 26 May 2015.[5]
A bill[6] to this effect was submitted to the parliament of Denmark on 28 January 2015 and had its first reading on 26 May 2015. It was planned to come into effect on 1 October 2015. However, it lapsed due to parliamentary elections.[7] A nearly identical bill with only minor formal changes,[8] was submitted to parliament on 29 October 2015 and had its first reading on 5 November 2015.[9] Under the new proposal, marriages would begin on 1 April 2016.[10]
Application to Greenland of Denmark's Registered Partnership Act, which currently applies to Greenland only, would be repealed the day the new law takes effect.
Adoption and family planning[edit]
Currently, there is only a chance at step-adoption,[11] lesbians are also granted more parental rights than gay men, as a law regarding IVF for female couples was legalized in 2006. Joint adoption of same-sex couples was to be legal on 1 October 2015, but bill L122, which included both same-sex marriage, adoption rights and other changes to Greenlandic family law lapsed due to the Danish general election in June. The parliamentary procedure will therefore have to start over and the new Liberal government put an identical bill on the agenda for its first reading on 5 November 2015 as L35.[12] Under the new proposal, changes to the current adoption laws would come into effect on 1 July 2016.[13]
Discrimination protections[edit]
Denmarks's anti-discrimination laws apply to Greenland.[1]
LGBT rights movement in Greenland[edit]
There was an LGBT rights organization called "Qaamaneq" (Light) (2002-2007), which has organized social events.[14] The organization was reestablished in 2014 as LGBT Qaamaneq.[15]
On 15 May 2010, Greenland held its first pride parade in Nuuk.[16][17][18]
Summary table[edit]
| Same-sex sexual activity legal |  (Since 1933) |
| Equal age of consent | (Since 1977) |
| Anti-discrimination laws in hate crime | (Since 2010)[19] |
| Anti-discrimination laws in employment | (Since 2010)[19] |
| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services |  |
| Same-sex marriage(s) | (Pending)[9] |
| Recognition of same-sex couples | (Since 1996)[19] |
| Step-child adoption by same-sex couples | (Since 2009)[19] |
| Joint adoption by same-sex couples | (Pending) |
| Gays allowed to serve in the military | (Since 1978; Joint Defence Command responsible) |
| Access to IVF for lesbians | (Since 2006) |
| Right to change legal gender | |
| Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples | |
| MSMs allowed to donate blood | |
See also[edit]
- Nuuk Pride
- Politics of Greenland
- LGBT rights in Denmark
- LGBT rights in Europe
- LGBT rights in the Americas
References[edit]
- ^ a b Greenland Reports
- ^ Yuval Merin, Equality for same-sex couples. Published in 2002.
- ^ Forslag til: Inatsisartutbeslutning om at Grønlands Selvstyre tiltræder Anordning om ikrafttræden for Grønland af dele af lov om ændring af lov om ægteskabs indgåelse og opløsning, lov om ægteskabets retsvirkninger og retsplejeloven og om ophævelse af lov om registreret partnerskab
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ a b L 35 Forslag til lov om ændring af myndighedsloven for Grønland, lov om ikrafttræden for Grønland af lov om ægteskabets retsvirkninger, retsplejelov for Grønland og kriminallov for Grønland
- ^ L35/Beh1-12/140
- ^ (Danish) Anordning om ikrafttræden for Grønland af lov om ændring af lov om registreret partnerskab m.v.
- ^ UGEPLAN FOR FOLKETINGET 2. november - 8. november 2015 (UGE 45)
- ^ L35/Beh1-12/140
- ^ Gay Greenland (Denmark)
- ^ "Ny landsforening for lesbiske, bøsser, bisexuelle og transkønnede". Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation, August 18, 2014.
- ^ "Nuuk: 1st Gay Pride parade on May 15". Sikunews. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ "Nuuk's Gay Pride parade a success". Sikunews. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ Allen, Dan. "WorldWatch: Greenland's First Gay Pride | Gay & Lesbian Travel Guides". Trip Out Gay Travel. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2013.pdf
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