Norway, Europe

Homosexuality was legalized in 1973. The age of consent became equal at the same time: 16 regardless of gender and/or sexual orientation. In 1981, Norway became the first country in the world to enact a law to prevent discrimination against homosexuals. Homosexuals can serve openly in the Armed Forces. Gender Neutral Marriage and Civil unions are allowed in Norwayon Jan. 1st, 2009. From this date, no new 'registered partnerships' may be created, but already existing ones will be allowed to keep their status, or they may be "upgraded" to full martial status. Same-sex couples will have exactly the same rights that are offered to heterosexual couples. Married couples are permitted to adopt under Norwegian law. Stepchild adoption is allowed for couples. For lesbians artificial insemination is perfectly legal and is paid for by the state. There is a fairly-sized gay scene in Oslo. Most of Norway is gay-friendly, an example can be found in Norway's socially liberal Nordland County, where churches are seen to fly rainbow flags.

 

 

Shooting Outside Gay Club in Oslo Leaves 2 Dead Hours Before Pride

Almost 20 people were also injured in the shooting that happened hours before the Norwegian capital’s Pride march was to take place. A mass shooting outside a gay club in Oslo, Norway, early Saturday has left two people dead and around 19 wounded. It came a little more than 12 hours before the city’s Pride,… Read more »

Norway bans hate speech against bisexual and transgender people

Norway has banned hate speech against bisexual and trans people in a landmark change to its penal code. Gay men and lesbians have been protected from hate speech under Norway’s laws since 1981, with those found guilty facing up to one year in prison or a fine for private comments or up to three years… Read more »

Svalbard had his first Pride this weekend – super cool pictures!

Svalbard has had its first Pride ever this weekend! Organizer Lene Jeanette Dyngeland was nervous but was pleased with how many people joined. Behind the Longyearbyen initiative in Svalbard is Lene Jeanette Dyngeland . She started the whole project without any idea how it would end and she was excited to change until Saturday, when… Read more »

Queer legend Oscar Wilde honored with portrait on wing of Boeing aircraft

A tribute Wilde would both love and mock Irish poet, playwright, and queer icon Oscar Wilde is being honored with a portrait on two Boeing aircraft. Norwegian airlines have launched two aircraft – a Boeing 737 MAX and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner – ahead of the legendary poet’s birthday on 16 October. The airliner often… Read more »

Watch Norway’s first gay couple to get married in a church

You may kiss the groom! The Church of Norway has finally allowed same-sex couples to have religious weddings, and we have the pictures of the very first gay couple to tie the knot. Kjell Frølich Benjaminsen, 63, and his partner Erik Skjelnæs, 70, spent decades waiting to get married in the church of their choice.… Read more »

The King Of Norway Delivered An Epic Speech Backing LGBT People

Well, you don’t see a royal do this every day. The king of Norway is receiving global praise after delivering a heartfelt speech in support of the LGBT community and other minority groups. On Sept. 1, King Harald V urged Norway to embrace “trust, solidarity and generosity” while speaking to more than 1,000 guests in… Read more »

Norway to allow same-sex church weddings

The Church of Norway is expected to approve a motion that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the country’s churches. It is believed that the Bishops Conference, which meets today (Monday, April 11), is to adopt new marriage rituals that will provide gender-neutral ceremonies. The draft resolution which is expected to be approved (after… Read more »

Norway’s PM offers support for same-sex church weddings

The Prime Minster of Norway has offered her support to allowing same-sex couples to marry in churches. Proposals to introduce a marriage liturgy for gay couples were voted down at the start of the Church of Norway’s national synod last week, with 64 of 115 votes against and 51 in favour. Erna Solberg said she… Read more »

Church of Norway votes against allowing priests to marry gay couples

The Church of Norway has voted not to allow same-sex couples to be married by its priests in a close run vote. Proposals to introduce a marriage liturgy for gay couples were voted down at the start of the Church’s national synod on Tuesday morning, with 64 of 115 votes against and 51 in favour.… Read more »

HIV situation in Norway in 2013

In 2013, there were 233 newly diagnosed HIV cases in Norway, compared to 242 in 2012. The decline is mainly seen among heterosexuals. Among men who have sex with men (MSM), the HIV figures remain high. Increased HIV testing, condom use and more HIV-infected people on treatment are the most important preventive measures. Of the… Read more »

Norway: Group of 10 youths sentenced after luring and attacking gay man with fake dating profile

Ten 20-year-olds in Norway have been sentenced with community service and fined a collective equivalent of £10,200 after they lured a middle-aged gay man with a fake dating profile and then attacked him with a baseball bat and BB-gun. The men had created a dating profile on Gaysir.no to lure an unnamed gay man in… Read more »

Norway: Group of 10 youths sentenced after luring and attacking gay man with fake dating profile

Ten 20-year-olds in Norway have been sentenced with community service and fined a collective equivalent of £10,200 after they lured a middle-aged gay man with a fake dating profile and then attacked him with a baseball bat and BB-gun The men had created a dating profile on Gaysir.no to lure an unnamed gay man in… Read more »

Were there any gay Vikings?

GSN visits Oslo to improve our Nordic history and embrace the tall, blond warriors of the future You might need to find it online, but lately I’ve been a bit obsessed with the television series Vikings. It’s a bloody and violent depiction of life at that time, I’m guessing it’s not too far from the… Read more »

Gay and Lesbian Pride celebrations kick off in Oslo

The LGBT community of Norway’s capital brave a rainy evening to launch ‘Skeive dager’ – the city’s annual Pride festival. Oslo’s LGBT community are a hardy bunch, and despite fairly solid rain they were out in force this evening for the city’s Pride celebrations. Oslo’s celebrations are known as ‘Skeive dager’ (which translates roughly as… Read more »

Norway princess makes secret India trip to care for gay surrogate babies

New Delhi hospital mistakes Crown Princess Mette-Marit for palace nanny after she travelled to subcontinent to help gay fathers Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit secretly flew to India to care for a gay palace employee’s twin babies, born to a surrogate mother in the subcontinent. The royal made the trip in late October after the worker… Read more »

Oslo Declaration on HIV Criminalization

Oslo, Norway – A growing body of evidence suggests that the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure, potential exposure and non-intentional transmission is doing more harm than good in terms of its impact on public health and human rights. A better alternative to the use of the criminal law are measures that create an environment that enables… Read more »

Norway refuses gay Iraqi asylum

Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect new information that another Iraqi Kurdish asylum seeker, whose story had strong similarities and had also been reported in the Norwegian media, was in fact a different person. That Iraqi has been granted asylum. His name and picture have been removed from this story at his request.… Read more »

Gay Norway News & Reports 2009-11

1 Romantic Norway 4/09 2 Nobel Peace Prize Given to Jailed Chinese Dissident 10/10 3 Lesbian Couple Rescued 40 Teens During Norway Massacre 7/11 April 2009 – Passport Magazine 1 Romantic Norway by Rich Rubin A mountain range coated in snow. A silvery fjord. A waterfall frozen in mid-gush as it plunges down a steep… Read more »

Gay Norway News & Reports 1999-2008

 1 Norway Bishops Join Sex Ed Class (1999) 2 Norwegian Church Approves Gay Adoption 2/01 3 Appointment of gay clergyman shakes Norway’s state church 6/00 4 Gay Asylum Seeker from Morocco Not Allowed to Stay 6/00 5 Study on Gay Youth Suicide (1995-2000) 6 Norway: Restaurant Turns Away Gay Customers 12/01 7 Norway Minister Marries… Read more »