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first openly lesbian head of government in Europe, if not the world -
BBC NEWS | Europe |
Iceland's PM marks gay milestone
| By Vanessa Buschschluter BBC News |
Johanna
Sigurdardottir, named as Iceland's prime minister on Sunday, is the
first openly lesbian head of government in Europe, if not the world -
at least in modern times.
The 66-year-old's appointment
as an interim leader, until elections in May, is seen by many as a
milestone for the gay and lesbian movement.
Up until now, if a gay man or woman has been prime minister, they have done their best to conceal the fact.
In Iceland itself, however, the new prime minister's sexual orientation appears to be causing less excitement than it is abroad.
What
is really historic about this new cabinet, says Skuli Helgeson, the
general secretary of Ms Sigurardottir's Social Democratic Alliance, is
not the fact that its leader is a lesbian, but that for the first time
in Icelandic history it boasts an equal number of men and women.
"I
don't think her sexual orientation matters. Our voters are pretty
liberal, they don't care about any of that," he told BBC News.
But
not all European countries are as tolerant, says Juris Lavrikovs of the
International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) in Brussels.
There is a huge divide between eastern and western Europe, he says.
"The
countries of the former Soviet Union were cut off from some of the
social developments which have brought us this far in the past 50 years.
"A
pink curtain divides us. And it will probably take a long time for
eastern European countries to reach the same level of tolerance," Mr
Lavrikovs says.
However, even in these countries he notes signs of change.
"In
Latvia, where I'm from, some of the political parties are approaching
gay, lesbian and transgender groups and talking to them about including
gay candidates in their party lists," he says.
No reason to hide
In most of western Europe the coming-out of a politician will still make headlines.
is really historic about this new cabinet, says Skuli Helgeson, the
general secretary of Ms Sigurardottir's Social Democratic Alliance, is
not the fact that its leader is a lesbian, but that for the first time
in Icelandic history it boasts an equal number of men and women.
"I
don't think her sexual orientation matters. Our voters are pretty
liberal, they don't care about any of that," he told BBC News.
But
not all European countries are as tolerant, says Juris Lavrikovs of the
International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) in Brussels.
There is a huge divide between eastern and western Europe, he says.
"The
countries of the former Soviet Union were cut off from some of the
social developments which have brought us this far in the past 50 years.
"A
pink curtain divides us. And it will probably take a long time for
eastern European countries to reach the same level of tolerance," Mr
Lavrikovs says.
However, even in these countries he notes signs of change.
"In
Latvia, where I'm from, some of the political parties are approaching
gay, lesbian and transgender groups and talking to them about including
gay candidates in their party lists," he says.
No reason to hide
In most of western Europe the coming-out of a politician will still make headlines.
Only last week, Roger Karoutchi became the first French government minister to disclose his homosexuality.
A minister for parliamentary relations, he said he was happy with his male partner and saw no reason to hide it.
But
friends of his have been quoted as saying that he came out with the
revelation because "attacks by his enemies" left him no choice.
Matthew
Parris, who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament in Britain
from 1979 until 1986, says politicians are often more worried than they
should be about making their sexual orientation public.
"Speaking
from my own experience, I was sort of in the closet when I was an MP,
and I always imagined that the world would fall in if people found
out," he says.
"Well, when I finally did come clean, it turned out most of my constituents had guessed already and didn't give a damn!"
He believes gay politicians are often still frightened to come out.
"They tend to hear the reactionary minority that speaks out against homosexuality, not the majority who quietly approve.
"If they came out, they'd be pleasantly surprised by the public reaction!"
He sees no barrier to a gay or lesbian politician making it to the top job in British politics within the next decade.
Machismo
Despite
the Spanish Socialist Party's strong backing for gay rights, there are
currently no openly gay members in Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero's
government.
He believes gay politicians are often still frightened to come out.
"They tend to hear the reactionary minority that speaks out against homosexuality, not the majority who quietly approve.
"If they came out, they'd be pleasantly surprised by the public reaction!"
He sees no barrier to a gay or lesbian politician making it to the top job in British politics within the next decade.
Machismo
Despite
the Spanish Socialist Party's strong backing for gay rights, there are
currently no openly gay members in Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero's
government.
Nevertheless, Silvia Jaen,
secretary-general of the Spanish Federation of Gays, Lesbians,
Transsexuals and Bisexuals says the country is ready for a gay prime
minister.
"These days, homosexuality gives you neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in politics.
"There was a time when you would have received a lot of extra press coverage for being gay - these days it's a footnote."
She
does however say that gay politicians in the conservative Popular Party
still face opposition from some of their Catholic base.
"But
we're miles away from the days of Franco. According to a recent poll,
72% of Spanish voters support equal rights for homosexuals," she says.
Ms Jaen does believe there is still a deeply ingrained machismo in Spanish society.
"Female ministers get a lot more stick from the press, be it because of what they're wearing or how they're behaving.
"I think we're more likely to see a gay man governing Spain before we ever see a straight woman as prime minister."
Sea change
Both Silvia Jaen and Juris Lavrikovs think Iceland's lesbian prime minister has made history.
Until
now, Ms Sigurdardottir - who was joined in a civil partnership with
Jonina Leosdottir in 2002 - has been a popular Social Affairs minister.
In one recent Gallup poll, 73% of respondents said they were satisfied
with her work.
"Here's a shining example of a country which has
overcome its prejudices against those of a different sexual
orientation," says Mr Lavrikovs.
"It won't cause any overnight changes, but it'll send a signal which can't be ignored."
And
Silvia Jaen says that by simply turning up with her civil law partner
at official ceremonies and state visits, Johanna Sigurdardottir will
already force other European leaders to confront their prejudices.
"If I could, I would take the next plane to Reykjavik to celebrate with Ms Sigurdardottir.
"It's not only a victory for lesbians, it's a victory for women, actually make that a victory for all!"
secretary-general of the Spanish Federation of Gays, Lesbians,
Transsexuals and Bisexuals says the country is ready for a gay prime
minister.
"These days, homosexuality gives you neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in politics.
"There was a time when you would have received a lot of extra press coverage for being gay - these days it's a footnote."
She
does however say that gay politicians in the conservative Popular Party
still face opposition from some of their Catholic base.
"But
we're miles away from the days of Franco. According to a recent poll,
72% of Spanish voters support equal rights for homosexuals," she says.
Ms Jaen does believe there is still a deeply ingrained machismo in Spanish society.
"Female ministers get a lot more stick from the press, be it because of what they're wearing or how they're behaving.
"I think we're more likely to see a gay man governing Spain before we ever see a straight woman as prime minister."
Sea change
Both Silvia Jaen and Juris Lavrikovs think Iceland's lesbian prime minister has made history.
Until
now, Ms Sigurdardottir - who was joined in a civil partnership with
Jonina Leosdottir in 2002 - has been a popular Social Affairs minister.
In one recent Gallup poll, 73% of respondents said they were satisfied
with her work.
"Here's a shining example of a country which has
overcome its prejudices against those of a different sexual
orientation," says Mr Lavrikovs.
"It won't cause any overnight changes, but it'll send a signal which can't be ignored."
And
Silvia Jaen says that by simply turning up with her civil law partner
at official ceremonies and state visits, Johanna Sigurdardottir will
already force other European leaders to confront their prejudices.
"If I could, I would take the next plane to Reykjavik to celebrate with Ms Sigurdardottir.
"It's not only a victory for lesbians, it's a victory for women, actually make that a victory for all!"