Iceland to join growing list of countries legalizing same-sex marriage

Iceland’s legislature is putting the final touches on a measure that would allow marriage equality for its residents.

Iceland, no stranger to progressive politics, was the first country in the world to elect an openly lesbian Prime Minister. Johanna Sigurdardóttir became prime minister last year when voters supporting the Social Democrats and their partners, the Left-Greens, ousted the conservative Independent Party that had ruled for 18 years.

The Sigurdardóttir administration presented the bill to Parliament on March 23. The bill’s passage is expected soon, and same-sex marriage could become legal as early as June 27.

Sigurdardóttir and writer/playwright Jonina Leosdotttir entered into a registered partnership in 2002. The prime minister has two adult sons from an earlier marriage.

Should the legislation pass, Iceland would join the world’s seven countries that allow same-sex marriage, and the dozens more that allow some sort of domestic partnership or civil union.