LGBT+ issues
Reykjavík City’s Human Rights Policy states that discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics is prohibited. It should not be assumed that all people are heterosexual and cisgender including staff, service recipients, and people in child care, recreational, educational, and cultural work. Reykjavík City Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan for 2019-2023 shows projects concerning LGBT+ issues.
Reykjavík City Rainbow Certification
All Reykjavík City workplaces can obtain Rainbow Certification. In order to obtain the certification, employees must participate in training on LGBT+ issues and examine the services provided by their workplace. In addition, an action plan must be devised for the purpose of making the workplace more LGBT+ friendly.
LGBT+ teaching and educational resources
According to law, LGBT+ issues must be taught at all education levels. This page offers a collection of diverse resources that can be used for teaching and discussing LGBT+ issues. These materials are useful for teachers as well as others who work with children and young people.
LGBT+ children and schools
There are LGBT+ children in all schools and they are a diverse group, just like other children. However, LGBT+ children have in common the fact that they are outside the so-called norm in terms of sexual orientation, gender expression, sex characteristics, and/or gender identity. The pages about LGBT+ children and transgender children include resources such as checklists, support plans, definitions, and materials about LGBT+ families,among other things.
Health and well-being of LGBT+ people
The Health and Well-being of LGBT+ People is a research project aimed at examining key factors in the health and well-being of LGBT+ individuals in Iceland, to shed light on health-related challenges faced by the LGBT+ community.
The main findings of the study show that LGBT+ people generally experience worse health and well-being than non-LGBT+ individuals. It's clear that actions must be taken to improve this situation.
Publications
Reykjavík City Human Rights & Democracy Office.
- In 2024, a study on the Health and Well-being of LGBT+ People was conducted with funding from the Student Innovation Fund.
- In 2024, the poster "Supporting LGBT+ People” was distributed to City workplaces.
- In 2023, the City published a pamphlet in Icelandic about private changing rooms in Reykjavík pools. It included staff procedures and information about main users. The pamphlet is also available in English and Polish.
- In 2022, the Task Force on the Status of Gender and LGBT+ Education in Reykjavík City Schools and Recreation produced a report with information on the situation, research, a survey of staff, as well as suggestions for improvements.
- In 2021, a study was conducted on Teaching Materials for Gender and LGBT+ Education in Preschool and Primary Education supported by the Student Innovation Fund.
- In 2021, the Task Force on Gender Neutral Facilities in School and Recreation in Reykjavík City completed an informational report on the situation, City policy, and suggestions for improvements.
- In 2021, Reykjavík City published a brochure with guidance and information on How to Respond to Questions about Transgender People in Gender-Segregated Spaces, in Icelandic and English. The brochure was also published in Icelandic and Polish
- In 2020, Reykjavík City and Samtökin '78 published an updated version of the brochure What is Queer?, available in Icelandic and English, and also in Polish: Co to jest Queer?
- In 2019, the brochure LGBT+ People and Domestic Violence, which is part of the project Together Against Violence
- In 2015, a study was carried out on LGBT+ sex education in Reykjavík City’s primary schools, The Penis Will Find You: Heterosexuality, Primary School, and LGBT+ Sex Education
- In 2014, a study was conducted among LGBT+ staff working at the city of Reykjavík, “We Are Always Gay. Not Just When It Suits Others“. The experience of LGBT+ staff at Reykjavík City
Contact Þórhildur Elínardóttir Magnúsdóttir, the Office's LGBT+ specialist, to book education sessions or get more information: thorhildur.elinard.magnusdottir@reykjavik.is