On this page, you will find:
- Information on the legal framework concerning LGBTQI+ rights in the Faeroe Islands
- Information on public attitude and state capacity to protect in the Faeroe Islands
- Relevant case law
- A list of organisations supporting LGBTQI+ individuals in the Faeroe Islands
- A list of Country of Origin experts in LGBTQI+ rights
Legal Framework
Denmark legalised same-sex marriage in 2012 and Greenland’s identical marriage law took into effect on 1 April 2016, but a similar attempt had been rejected in the Faroe Islands, until a law was finally passed in late April 2016.
An attempt to introduce Denmark’s registered partnerships law in the Faroe Islands was considered in 2007, but it was never submitted to the Faroese Parliament; whilst a same-sex marriage bill was rejected by the Parliament in 2014, prior to the 2015 election. Following that election, a same-sex marriage bill was put to the Parliament in September 2015. The proposed bill included civil marriage and full adoption rights for same-sex couples in line with the laws of Denmark and Greenland.
The law went into effect on 1 July 2017. The first same-sex wedding in the Faroe Islands was performed on 6 September 2017.
Regarding discrimination protection, on 15 December 2006, in a 17–15 vote, Faroese legislators approved the inclusion of the words in Article 1 of Ordinance No. 182 (2007) “sexual orientation” in the Faroese anti-discrimination law, stating that “whoever publicly or with the intention of dissemination to a wider circle makes a statement or other communication by which a group of persons are threatened, insulted or degraded on account of their race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion or sexual orientation is liable to pay a fine or be imprisoned for up to two years.”
Further, In 2019, Ordinance No. 50 (2019) amended the Penal Code of the Faroe Islands (1930) to aggravate penalties for crimes motivated by the victim’s “sexual orientation”.
In the Faroe Islands, citizens have the Right to change legal gender, but surgery is required in order to do so. Additionally, this law has been adopted from the Kingdom of Denmark and is pending harmonization into the law of the Faroe Islands.
For more detailed information on the protection of LGBTQI+ rights in the Faeroe Islands, visit the Faeroe Islands ILGA World Database.
Homosexuality/Bisexuality
Prior to 2012, LGBT rights was not a high-profile issue in the Faroe Islands.
The Faroe Islands had been viewed by neighboring countries and worldwide media as a homophobic country for a long time. Generally, this was because religious observance is stronger and more widespread in the Faroe Islands than any other Nordic country,[36] and due to the lack of LGBT rights, such as recognition of same-sex unions, particularly when compared with other Nordic countries. Both factors created a perception that Faroese people were intolerant of LGBT individuals. On top of that, there were also a number of high-profile homophobic incidents widely reported in the Scandinavian press.
Later developments suggested that the Faroe Islands were becoming more liberal, even though the laws were still relatively conservative compared to other Nordic countries. This was partly due to the outlawing of discrimination towards LGBT people, which in turn encouraged many to come out publicly, and over time the previous negative attitudes towards LGBT individuals have softened as illustrated by academic studies.
In addition, the Faroese LGBT population received support from well-known Faroese figures such as singer-songwriter Eivør Pálsdóttir, who defended gay people in an interview with Icelandic media, saying that those with narrow-minded opinions on gays and transgender people should be ignored.
In 2015, Sonja Jógvansdóttir became the first openly gay person to be elected to the Faroese Parliament.
Transgender persons
Unfortunately, Trans persons are not included in discrimination or hate crime legislation. Overall, there is still discrimination and negative attitudes held towards transgender people.
However, in Tórshavn, the capital city, there is a more accepting attitude towards the LGBTQI+ community with nightclubs and bars being promoted as having a ‘friendly attitude‘ towards LGBTQI+ patrons who visit.
Act No. 428 – Marriage Act (2017)
Allows same-sex couples to adopt. However, despite the changes in the marriage law, certain issues of co-parenting for same-sex couples remained unsolved. Until, in December 2021, two bills submitted by the opposition parties were passed in the Parliament of the Faroe Islands thus granting equal parental rights for same-sex couples.
Ordinance No. 182 (2007) amended the Penal Code of the Faroe Islands
Added “sexual orientation” to the categories listed under Article 266b. Under this provision anyone who, in general or with the intention of a larger dissemination, utters an insult or message that threatens, mocks or humiliates a person because of their “sexual orientation” is punished with a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
Ordinance No. 50 (2019) of the Penal Code of the Faroe Islands
Amended the code to aggravate penalties for crimes motivated by the victim’s “sexual orientation”.
Organisations supporting LGBTQI+ individuals
Website
Facebook
Address: Tórsgøta 16
FO-100 Tórshavn
Tel.: +298 593109
Email: lgbt@lgbt.fo
LGBT+ Faroyar is a movement for same-sex, bisexual and bisexual people in the Faroes.
The ultimate goal of the organization is to increase the progress of the sexual minorities in society, improving their rights and working towards fuller equality in all of society’s dealings.
Country of Origin experts in LGBTQI+ rights
We have not yet identified any COI resources in the Faeroe Islands. If you have any suggestions, please get in touch.
Faeroe Islands Legal Assistance
Find organisations providing legal assistance to refugees in the Faeroe Islands.
Faeroe Islands COI
Find Faeroe Islands Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023
