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Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 1933,
age of consent equalized in 1977 (Danish law) Military service Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly (Joint Defence Command) Discrimination protections Sexual orientation protections (see below) Recognition of
relationships Same-sex marriage since 2016 Adoption Full adoption rights since 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 had access to registered partnerships, which provide them with nearly all of the rights provided to married opposite-sex couples from 1996 to 2016. On 1 April 2016, a law repealing the registered partnership law and allowing for same-sex marriages to be performed came into effect.
Contents
- Law regarding same sex sexual activity
- Recognition of same sex relationships
- Adoption and family planning
- Discrimination protections
- LGBT rights movement in Greenland
- References
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
As is the case with Denmark, same-sex sexual activity is not a crime. 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
Greenland adopted Denmark's registered partnership law on 1 July 1996. Registered partnerships are called nalunaarsukkamik inooqatigiinneq in Greenlandic.
Same-sex marriage became legal on 1 April 2016. Application in Greenland of Denmark's Registered Partnership Act, which currently applies to Greenland only, was repealed the day the new law took effect.
Adoption and family planning
On 1 June 2009, step-child adoption for same-sex couples became legal. 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. 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 allowing same-sex couples to adopt children, went into effect on 1 July, 2016.
Discrimination protections
Denmarks's anti-discrimination laws apply to Greenland.
LGBT rights movement in Greenland
There was an LGBT rights organization called "Qaamaneq" (Light) (2002-2007), which has organized social events. The organization was reestablished in 2014 as LGBT Qaamaneq.
On 15 May 2010, Greenland held its first pride parade in Nuuk.