LGBTQ rights in Greenland

As is the case with Denmark, same-sex sexual activity is not a crime. It was legalized by Denmark in 1933, and the age of consent was equalized in 1977 at 15, two years prior to home rule.

{{main|Same-sex marriage in Greenland}}

Greenland adopted Denmark's registered partnership law on 1 July 1996.{{cite book|author=Yuval Merin|title=Equality for Same-Sex Couples: The Legal Recognition of Gay Partnerships in Europe and the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=10rBoQPazt0C&pg=PA67|year=2010|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-52033-9|page=67}} There was some opposition to registered partnerships from clergy and conservative lawmakers, who later chose to abstain from voting. The bill was passed in the Greenlandic Parliament 15–0 with 12 abstentions, and later by the Danish Parliament 104–1. The first same-sex couple to register did so in 2002. Registered partnerships are called nalunaarsukkamik inooqatigiinneq in Greenlandic.

In March 2015, MP Justus Hansen, from the Democrats, introduced a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in Greenland, which also included adoption rights and other changes to Greenlandic family law. The bill was approved unanimously (27–0) by the Parliament of Greenland on 26 May 2015, but required Danish approval before coming into effect. Initially, the bill was to come into effect on 1 October 2015, but lapsed due to the Danish general elections in June 2015. The parliamentary procedure therefore had to start over and the new Venstre Government put an identical bill on the agenda for its first reading on 5 November 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.dk/Aktuelt/Kalender/Folketingssalen/Uge.aspx?weekYear=45-2015|title=Kalender|website=Folketinget|access-date=27 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095325/http://www.ft.dk/Aktuelt/Kalender/Folketingssalen/Uge.aspx?weekYear=45-2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} On 19 January 2016, the Folketing (Danish Parliament) approved the proposal 108–0 and the bill was given royal assent by Queen Margrethe II on 3 February 2016. The parts of the law relating to marriage went into effect on 1 April 2016.

Same-sex marriage became legal on 1 April 2016.{{cite web|url=http://knr.gl/da/nyheder/første-homoseksuelle-par-viet-i-kirken |title=Første homoseksuelle par viet i kirken |work=Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation |language=da |first=Camilla |last=Dam |date=1 April 2016 |access-date=3 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402023341/http://knr.gl/da/nyheder/f%C3%B8rste-homoseksuelle-par-viet-i-kirken |archive-date= 2 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/04/01/same-sex-couples-can-now-officially-marry-in-greenland/|title=Same sex couples can now officially marry in Greenland|work=PinkNews|first=Joe|last=Williams|date=1 April 2016|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402055709/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/04/01/same-sex-couples-can-now-officially-marry-in-greenland/|archive-date=2 April 2016}} Application in Greenland of the registered partnership law was repealed the day the new marriage law took effect.

Same-sex couples in registered partnerships have been permitted to adopt their stepchildren since 1 June 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://naalakkersuisut.gl/~/media/Nanoq/Files/Attached%20Files/Familie/DK/Anordning%20nr%20375.pdf|title=Anordning om ikrafttræden for Grønland af lov om ændring af lov om registreret partnerskab m.v.|access-date=2 February 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024933/http://naalakkersuisut.gl/~/media/Nanoq/Files/Attached%20Files/Familie/DK/Anordning%20nr%20375.pdf|url-status=dead}} A law regarding in vitro fertilization (IVF) for female couples was approved in 2006. The parts of the same-sex marriage law allowing same-sex couples to adopt children jointly went into effect on 1 July 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.dk/samling/20151/lovforslag/l35/beh1-12/forhandling.htm#speak140?startItem=|title=*|website=Folketinget|date=9 January 2017}}

Since 2010, Greenland has outlawed hate speech and provided penalty enhancements to hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalgayz.com/country/Greenland/view/GRL/gay-greenland-news-and-reports-2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608154659/http://www.globalgayz.com/country/Greenland/view/GRL/gay-greenland-news-and-reports-2|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 June 2009|title=Gay Greenland News & Reports|date=8 June 2009|access-date=27 May 2018}} Article 100 of the Criminal Code prohibits speech which may deprive, threaten or demean individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation, among other categories.{{cite web|url=https://www.kamikposten.gl/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/AA10062.pdf|title=Bekendtgørelse af kriminallov for Grønland|website=KamikPosten.gl|date=7 September 2017|language=da|access-date=22 August 2019|archive-date=22 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822140328/https://www.kamikposten.gl/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/AA10062.pdf|url-status=dead}}

Greenland’s parliament passed a Law on Equal Treatment and Anti-Discrimination in May 2024, taking effect on 1 July 2024. The law prohibits all discrimination on the basis of “sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, [and] gender characteristics,” among other characteristics. The law also creates an Equal Treatment Board to manage discrimination complaints and an Equality Council to promote non-discrimination.{{Cite web |url=https://database.ilga.org/greenland-denmark-lgbti#:~:text=The%20law%20prohibits%20all%20forms,and%20services%20to%20the%20public. |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=database.ilga.org}}

The Human Rights Council of Greenland, funded by the state budget, promotes and protects human rights in Greenland. It is commissioned to participate in the strengthening and consolidation of human rights, and works closely with the Danish Institute for Human Rights.{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2016/eur/265414.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307084042/https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2016/eur/265414.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 March 2017|title=Denmark|access-date=27 May 2018}}

{{see also|Legal status of transgender people}}

The Act on Sterilisation and Castration ({{langx|kl|Kinguaassiorsinnaajunnaarsagaaneq pillugu inatsit}}; {{langx|da|Lov om sterilisation og kastration}}) of the Realm of Denmark came into force in Greenland in 1975, allowing sex changes in the country.{{cite web|url=https://nun.gl/-/media/landslaegeembedet/sundhedsprofessionelle/groenlands-sundhedslovgivning/lov-om-ikraftsttelse-for-grnland-af-lov-om-sterilisation-og-kastration.pdf?la=da |title=Inatsit 233 juunip 12-at 1975-imit Kinguaassiorsinnaajunnaarsagaaneq pillugu inatsisip Kalaallit Nunaannut atortuulersinneqarneranik inatsit - Lov nr 233 af 12. juni 1975 om ikraftsættelse for Grønland af lov om sterilisation og kastration (Greenlandic and Danish) |access-date=2020-09-10 }}{{cite web|url=https://nun.gl/-/media/landslaegeembedet/sundhedsprofessionelle/groenlands-sundhedslovgivning/lov-318-af-13-juni-1973-om-sterilisation-og-kastration.pdf?la=da |title=Inatsit 318 juunip 13-anit 1975-imit Kinguaassiorsinnaajunnaarsagaaneq pillugu inatsit - Lov nr. 318 af 13. juni 1973 om sterilisation og kastration (Greenlandic and Danish) |access-date=2020-09-10 }}

Transgender people in Greenland may change the sex designation on their official identity documents. A law passed in 2016 by decree allows legal sex changes based on self-determination. Transgender people can apply to change their legal gender without undergoing sex reassignment surgery, hormone therapy, sterilization or receiving a medical diagnosis.

Since 2016, Greenlanders over 18 years of age who wish to apply for a legal sex change can do so by stating that they want to change their documentation, followed by a six-month-long "reflection period" to confirm the request.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.dk/samling/20131/lovforslag/l182/99/367/afstemning.htm|title=*|website=Folketinget|date=9 January 2017}}

Besides male and female, Greenlandic passports are available with an "X" sex descriptor.{{cite web |url=https://tgeu.org/denmark-x-in-passports-and-new-trans-law-work/ |title=Denmark: X in Passports and New Trans Law Works |work=TGEU |publisher=Transgender Europe |date=2014-09-12 |access-date=2018-10-20}}

{{See also|LGBT social movements}}

Due to the small and scattered population, there is virtually no gay scene in Greenland. Some nightclubs and bars in the capital Nuuk have a mixed gay and straight crowd. Many Greenlandic LGBT people have moved to Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat or Copenhagen in Denmark. There was an LGBT rights organization called "Qaamaneq" (Light) from 2002 to 2007 which organized social and cultural events.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalgayz.com/g-denmark-greenland.html|title=Denmark - GlobalGayz|website=www.globalgayz.com|access-date=27 May 2018|archive-date=6 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406173246/http://globalgayz.com/g-denmark-greenland.html|url-status=dead}} The organization was reestablished in 2014 as LGBT Qaamaneq.[http://knr.gl/da/nyheder/ny-landsforening-lesbiske-b%C3%B8sser-bisexuelle-og-transk%C3%B8nnede "Ny landsforening for lesbiske, bøsser, bisexuelle og transkønnede"]. Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation, 18 August 2014.

GlobalGayz describes Greenland as a model for LGBT rights; "[a]s for gay marriage ... Greenland was distinct among almost every other country in the world. The issue caused virtually no one's heart to skip a beat. Other countries that now allow gay marriage experienced dramatic demonstrations, resistance and delay, even in Denmark .... In Greenland there were no demands in the streets for marriage equality, no lengthy advocacy, very little governmental debate and virtually no media coverage. Indeed, one native said 'gay rights have come from the work of straight people'." The legalisation of registered partnerships in 1996 and same-sex marriage in 2016 fueled very little opposition and stirred little to no debate.{{cite web|url=https://www.globalgayz.com/gay-greenland-past-and-present/3853/|title=Gay Greenland--Past and Present|work=GlobalGayz|access-date=30 November 2020|last=Ammon|first=Richard}}

On 15 May 2010, Greenland held its first pride parade in Nuuk.{{cite web |url=http://www.sikunews.com/News/Denmark-Greenland/Nuuk%3A-1st-Gay-Pride-parade-on-May-15-7549 |title=Nuuk: 1st Gay Pride parade on 15 May |publisher=Sikunews |access-date=19 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722184523/http://www.sikunews.com/News/Denmark-Greenland/Nuuk%3A-1st-Gay-Pride-parade-on-May-15-7549 |archive-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.sikunews.com/News/Denmark-Greenland/7557 |title=Nuuk's Gay Pride parade a success |publisher=Sikunews |access-date=19 January 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110716071734/http://www.sikunews.com/News/Denmark-Greenland/7557 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|last=Allen |first=Dan |url=http://www.newnownext.com/worldwatch-greenlands-first-gay-pride/06/2010/ |title=WorldWatch: Greenland's First Gay Pride | Gay & Lesbian Travel Guides |publisher=Trip Out Gay Travel |access-date=19 January 2011}} It was attended by about 1,000 people.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lgbt Rights in Greenland}}

Category:1933 in law

LGBT rights