What We Want to Know
When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to only do what feels right to them.
Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Iceland is!
LGBTQ+ Laws
Iceland is very progressive with their laws regarding LGBTQ+ people, and they were actually the first country in the world to have an openly gay head of government. Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in 1940, same-sex marriage has been legal since 2010, and same-sex registered partnerships have been recognized in Iceland since 1996. Same-sex couples can also adopt children, and they have equal access to IVF. There is excellent discrimination protection in place for LGBTQ+ people, and has been since 1996. They have continually updated their anti-discrimination laws to include more members of the community, most recently those of all gender identities. Overall, Iceland has amazing LGBTQ+ laws, and is often regarded as one of the most gay friendly countries in the world.
Social Climate
The public opinion in Iceland is definitely in favour of the LGBTQ+ community, with the majority of the population being in favour of same-sex marriage and other related social issues according to recent Gallup polls. In 2015, Iceland ranked as the #1 country on the Gay Happiness Index, a survey published by the LGBTQ+ social network PlanetRomeo, to determine the quality of life for gay men around the world. In 2015 The Church of Iceland voted to allow same-sex couples to marry in it’s churches, and in 2016 the President of Iceland participated in the Pride events for the first time in the country’s history. There is now LGBTQ+ acceptance across all avenues in Iceland, including the government, the church, and the local residents, and it is in thanks to the LGBTQ+ activism that started there in the late 1970’s. By bringing LGBTQ+ issues into the public eye, community groups were able to raise awareness and in turn, change societal attitudes to become more accepting. Iceland then became a world leader in LGBTQ+ rights by being the fourth country to legally recognize same-sex partnerships, and the ninth country to legalize same-sex marriage. Now, rates of acceptance and support for the LGBTQ+ community in Iceland are among the highest in the world.
Gaybourhoods
If you’re looking for the best LGBTQ+ culture in Iceland, definitely head to the capital city of Reykjavik! There you will find pride flags flying in the streets, as well as LGBTQ+ friendly hotels, bars, and nightclubs. They also host amazing Pride festivities every August, with their Pride parade being one of the country’s largest annual events. Similar to other international cities, the gay scene in Reykjavik is mostly geared toward men, but that being said, it is very inclusive of everyone. There aren’t any specifically lesbian venues, but the most well known LGBTQ+ bar is called Kiki Queer Bar. Other gay friendly venues include Gaukurinn, Bravo, and Kaffibarinn. Iceland also has a LGBTQ+ resource website called Pink Iceland with plenty of expert information.
Our Experience
We had a really incredible experience in Iceland together! We based ourselves in the capital city of Reykjavik, and did day trips to explore the amazing nearby sights. We stayed in an Airbnb in the city centre, and rented a car to self drive the South, Central, and West regions of Iceland. It gave us a really authentic travel experience and we highly recommend this style of Iceland adventure. We explored the famous Golden Circle, the South Coast, and the Snaefellnes Peninsula, as well as the incredible Blue Lagoon, and the Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths. We saw waterfalls, geysers, lava fields, natural hot springs, crater lakes, national parks, black sand beaches, fishing villages, mountains, and volcanoes. Iceland is such a special country with so many unique natural wonders, making it an unforgettable place to travel. We felt very welcomed and supported while exploring Iceland, and we loved that our marriage was legally recognized. It makes a big difference to us knowing that the laws of a country protect us as lesbian women, and we felt very safe travelling there. In the capital city of Reykjavik, we were very comfortable being out and open, and found the locals to be welcoming in all aspects. It felt similar to other European cities in the way that people seem to live their lives freely, and don’t seem concerned with what others are doing. Outside of the city, we still felt perfectly safe. A lot of Iceland is quite remote and we explored all over the country, but the locals in the smaller villages didn’t give us any feelings of disapproval. People were kind everywhere we went, and we didn’t receive any unwanted attention. Many of the top destinations and attractions in Iceland are full of tourists, and we felt comfortable in those places as well. At the famous Blue Lagoon, we snuggled up to one another and nobody seemed to bat an eye. It feels amazing to travel in a country where we feel safe and comfortable to be ourselves! We highly recommend Iceland to other lesbian couples and solo lesbian travellers.
If you’re interested in travelling to Iceland, be sure to read our Lesbian Guide to Reykjavik!
Have you been to Iceland? Share your experience in the comments below!
View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!
