Entry #167: Homosexual activity in Iceland

Current Version

Region	Iceland
Issue	Homosexual activity
Status	Legal
Start Date	Aug 12, 1940
End Date	(none)
Description	In 1940, Iceland became the second Nordic country to decriminalize homosexuality. The law that had criminalized it, however, was rarely enforced, and reports suggest that only four men were convicted under it.
Sources	http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/34830/353810.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html

Revision History (16)

Jul 1, 2025

edited by UnknownMiles. Replacing broken link, rewriting description, and fixing date

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value (Current)
Start Date	Aug 10, 1940	Aug 12, 1940
Description	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality; removing the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.	In 1940, Iceland became the second Nordic country to decriminalize homosexuality. The law that had criminalized it, however, was rarely enforced, and reports suggest that only four men were convicted under it.
Description	Show Difference The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality; removing the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal. In 1940, Iceland became the second Nordic country to decriminalize homosexuality. The law that had criminalized it, however, was rarely enforced, and reports suggest that only four men were convicted under it.
Sources	http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html e	http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/34830/353810.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html
Sources	Show Difference http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html e http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/34830/353810.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html

Apr 5, 2024

edited by Doomdorm64. Proper grammar

Helpful?

-1

	Old Value	New Value
Description	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality; removing the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.
Description	Show Difference The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal. homosexuality; removing the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.

Oct 21, 2023

edited by Hello. Removing edits done by a troll

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)	Legal
Start Date	Aug 10, 1678	Aug 10, 1940
Description	RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03????????????	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.
Description	Show Difference RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03???????????? The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.
Sources	Big balls	http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html e
Sources	Show Difference Big balls http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html e

Oct 21, 2023

edited by Canadianstudent03_ALT. FUCK E1

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Start Date	(unknown)	Aug 10, 1678
Description	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.	RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03????????????
Description	Show Difference The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal. RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03 RAIDED BY CANADIANSTUDENT03????????????
Sources	http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html e	Big balls
Sources	Show Difference http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html e Big balls

Reports (2)
Sources are invalid or broken 
Oct 21, 2023
Newer law has been passed "It's a Troll"
Oct 21, 2023

Oct 14, 2023

edited by aesper. legal…

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)	Legal
Start Date	Jun 27, 2023	(unknown)

Oct 14, 2023

edited by RAWESEP. AHHHHHHHFUCJ EQUALDEX

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Start Date	Aug 12, 1940	Jun 27, 2023

Reports (4)
Status is not correct 
Oct 14, 2023
Status is not correct 
Oct 14, 2023
Status is not correct 
Oct 14, 2023
Newer law has been passed "Supposed to be legal since 1940, not 2023."
Oct 14, 2023

Sep 24, 2023

edited by ErrorWolf. Wrong status

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)	Legal

Sep 24, 2023

edited by danlev. Revert abuse

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	[EDIT REMOVED]	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.
Description	Show Difference [EDIT REMOVED] The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.

Reports (1)
Newer law has been passed "The law in Iceland criminalizing same-sex sexual activity was repealed in 1940"
Sep 24, 2023

Sep 24, 2023

edited by IHED. Wjjwjee

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Description	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.	[EDIT REMOVED]
Description	Show Difference The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal. [EDIT REMOVED]

Sep 24, 2023

edited by IHED. Checking something

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Sources	http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html	http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html e
Sources	Show Difference http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html e

Sep 24, 2023

edited by danlev. Revert abuse

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Description	Legal since 1940	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.
Description	Show Difference Legal since 1940 The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.

Sep 24, 2023

edited by Jthehomophobedestroyer. Some troll seriously fucked this up

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)	Legal
Description	[EDIT REMOVED]	Legal since 1940

Sep 24, 2023

edited by KYSSSSS. Djjdudjddj

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Legal	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Description	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.	[EDIT REMOVED]
Description	Show Difference The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal. [EDIT REMOVED]

Aug 27, 2023

edited by danlev. Revert abuse

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)	Legal
Description	xxxxxxxxx	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.

Aug 27, 2023

edited by TOS. Yesss

Helpful?

	Old Value (Original)	New Value
Value	Legal	Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Description	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.	xxxxxxxxx

Reports (2)
Status is not correct "Illegal?"
Aug 27, 2023
Other "Spam entry, please remove"
Aug 27, 2023

Sep 12, 2013

created by kevinkobori

Helpful?

	Original entry
Status	Legal
Start Date	Aug 12, 1940
End Date	(none)
Description	The Icelandic parliament decriminalizes homosexuality, removes the provision of the law that made homosexuality illegal.
Sources	http://www.gaypride.is/Index/English/AboutReykjavikGayPride/LGBTrightsinIceland/ http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/IcelandLegal_E.pdf http://www.althingi.is/lagas/135a/1940019.html

Reports (4)
Date is incorrect "Should be 1944"
Feb 28, 2014
Date is incorrect "Correct date is 1940, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Iceland#Law_regarding_same-sex_sexual_activity"
Feb 28, 2014
Date is incorrect "1940 should be when homosexuality was decriminalized"
Feb 18, 2014
Date is incorrect "1940 is the year. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CFYQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coe.int%2Ft%2FCommissioner%2FSource%2FLGBT%2FIcelandLegal_E.pdf&ei=rmbpUoG1IcLXswbXm4CACg&usg=AFQjCNE24MEjzVuo-9Fm07238Csmdc9ElQ&sig2=78K6nDhgEVxJa4jOpaGH8A&bvm=bv.60157871,d.Yms"
Jan 29, 2014