LGBT rights in Greenland

LGBT rights in Greenland Greenland

Location of Greenland
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		 Same-sex marriage from 1 April 2016
Adoption Full adoption rights from 1 July 2016

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. Same-sex couples have access to registered partnerships, which provide them with nearly all of the rights provided to married opposite-sex couples. Registered partnerships were replaced with marriage from 1 April 2016.

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.

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Further information: LGBT rights in Denmark

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

Further information: Same-sex marriage in Greenland

Greenland adopted Denmark's registered partnership law on 1 July 1996.[2] Registered partnerships are called nalunaarsukkamik inooqatigiinneq in Greenlandic.

Same-sex marriage will become legal on 1 April 2016.[3] Greenland's parliament has approved same-sex marriage legislation, though a change in Danish law was required to implement it. The Folketing approved the proposal on 19 January 2016 and the bill was given Royal Assent on 3 February 2016. The law came into effect on 1 April 2016.[4][5]

Application in Greenland of Denmark's Registered Partnership Act, which currently applies to Greenland only, would be repealed the day the new law takes effect.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

Currently, there is only a chance at step-adoption,[6] 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 therefore had 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.[7] The Folketing approved the proposal on 19 January 2016 and the bill was given Royal Assent on 3 February, 2016. The part of the law in regard to same-sex adoption will come into effect on 1 July 2016.[3]

Discrimination protections

Denmarks's anti-discrimination laws apply to Greenland.[1]

LGBT rights movement in Greenland

There was an LGBT rights organization called "Qaamaneq" (Light) (2002-2007), which has organized social events.[8] The organization was reestablished in 2014 as LGBT Qaamaneq.[9]

On 15 May 2010, Greenland held its first pride parade in Nuuk.[10][11][12]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 1933)
Equal age of consent (Since 1977)
Anti-discrimination laws in hate crime (Since 2010)[13]
Anti-discrimination laws in employment (Since 2010)[13]
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
Same-sex marriage(s) (Since 2016)
Recognition of same-sex couples (Since 1996)
Step-child adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2009)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples (from 2016)
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 (illegal for heterosexual couples also)
MSMs allowed to donate blood

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 27, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.