Iceland is set to appoint the world's first openly gay woman as interim prime minister following the failure of the country's conservative-led government under the weight of the country's collapsed banks and billions of dollars of debt accumulated in an aggressive overseas expansion. She would also become the country's first female prime minister.
Johanna Sigurdardottir, the 66-year-old openly gay social affairs minister is expected to be confirmed as Iceland's interim prime minister. She would also become the country's first female prime minister.
According to media reports, her appointment is expected to be confirmed within days by the new ruling coalition of the Alliance party and the Left-Green movement. The 66-year-old social affairs minister was first elected to Iceland's parliament in 1978 having entered politics through the labour movement, serving as a labour organiser when she worked as a flight attendant with Loftleidir Airlines - now Icelandair - in the 1960s and 1970s.
She now faces the challenge of repairing the nation's shattered economy as the International Monetary Fund predicts Iceland's economy is facing its biggest slump since the country won full independence from Denmark in 1944. The country - population 305,000 - has seen its currency plummet while inflation and unemployment are soaring.
She is known to be living with journalist Jonina Leosdottir, who became her civil partner in a ceremony in 2002. Sigurdardottir was previously married to a man and has two sons.
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Reader's Comments
You need to correct the headline pronto.
In countries where the government is parliamentary, the Head Of State is either a President or a Crowned Sovereign (King, Queen, Prince, Sultan, etc...) while the Prime Minister runs the affairs of the state as Head of Government.
Other than this slip, this is still great news. Go girl!
There've actually been a number of Prime Ministers and heads of state throughout history right up to modern times that were gay. PMs were in the closet, but Kings, Queens and Emperors weren't always so.
And of course, she is head of governmnet, not head of state... but that was pointed out before.
speaking of iceland, please don't forget to check out copenhagen 2009 world outgames this coming july. registrations are now very much. iceland is just a hop away from denmark. see you all there!
http://diversityandequality.ph/?p=241
Now...when will it be Singapore's turn??
George
Nor does having sex with men make one automatically gay or straight.
It depends on the definition one uses (which usually depends on who is defining and for what purpose)
In Sexology, we try to improve precision by using gay and straight as identities or self-definitions - sociologists tend to use them this way as well - as these terms refer to much more than one's sexuality.
The sex act/arousals are better referred to as homosexual /heterosexual.
As bisexual is very rarely used to describe a sex act (has to be 3-ways minimum), it is mostly used to describe one's diverse orientation, one's capacity, one's history or even one's discomfort with one's gayness. As a professional, one has to tease out the meaning of the term for each person.
That you do not self-identify as "bi" likely speaks to the stage of your coming out process and possibly your belief that external rather than internal processes led to your history of sexual activity with women.
That another writer says someone else is "bi" speaks to her definition of the word - past experience is defining rather than arousal.
Mine is not to judge but to ask that we be tolerant of all no matter how they use words like "bi" (as long as not in a cruel or abusive way)... even if they defend their stage of coming to terms with same sex attraction.
Well done Fridae on keeping your readers up to date...minor errors do not detract from the value of what you do.
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You have a point.
PalawanOz (#20),
I cannot understand you. You are able to put your dick into a woman's body and remain hard and say you are NOT a bi. Are you in denial that you are a bi? Or is it because you think of a man when you fxxx her? Otherwise, you will not be able to enjoy the fxxx if you are truly gay. Do you really love her when you get married?
As for women who are les, they got penetrated by men does not necessary mean they have turned straight or are bi. Women can get penetrated but without sexual attraction or desire (i.e. having a tight virgina feeling), and bear children. To them, it is rape. But for men, he needs to get sexually aroused in order to have an erection and ejaculation (force themselves to fxxx). This is worse than rape.
You must ask Johanna Sigurdardottir if she gets attracted to her ex-husband when they has sex, or did she get attracted to him when they court each other.
Post #22 therd9,
is it possible for a man to get attracted to men but have sexual desire with women? Is he gay or bi? If a man has sexual desire with men but only has sexual attraction with women, then what creature is he? if a man gets attracted to man only but has both sexual desire for man and woman, and he is a biphobic, then is he a gay or bi?
The first OPENLY gay head of Govt was Per-Kristian Foss, former interim Prime Minister of Norway.
According to articles found on the Internet, he was indeed the acting PM of Norway for a "brief" period in 2002 although he isn't listed on the Norwegian Government web site (http://www.regjeringen.no) which lists Norway's Prime Ministers since 1814; although a dozen other 'acting' PMs were listed. It is not clear why this is so.
At one point in her life (whilst previously married), Jonina (the Icelander PM) may have been a "2" on the sexuality scale (mostly straight), over time, feelings change, suppressed emotions come to the fore, and she moved up the scale. Now, living with a female civil partner, she may be more of a "8" (mostly gay). At one point, she might have identified as bi - however I do not think we should automatically label someone as "bi" just because they have had sexual experience with both men and women - it all depends on how they feel right _now_.
It is possible for feelings/desire/awareness to change - as in my case, where I feel that I moved from a "3" to a "9" (on the sexuality-preference scale out of 10!)
gay, straight, bi or taken who really cares, all the people of Iceland want is a leader to fix the economy and get people working and prosperity to all mankind
Yr comment's most sensible; I just wish the rest of us will be wiser & more accepting of the fact that sexuality, unlike something physical like the nose,
is not something that can be defined, structured, even moulded into neat little categories.
As Ms Sigurdardottir herself clearly indicated she is 'gay' & did nt volunteer any more information, it's kinda rude to try second-guessing & making presumptions about whether she's really gay or bi, which btw is her private life & nt any of our business. The public should focus on what matters & that' is her ability to carry out the job she is assigned with
good-looking...can u be as confident of having such good skin when u reach her age? ;))
Great to see more openly gay ppl taking great leadership; esp in the current global economic situation.
Funny how minorities (gay friendly ppl like Johanna herself & Obama) are chosen at the current state and have to face the challenges & responsibilites of repairing own nation's bad economy. I hope there will be the sustaining power for us, the minorities.
Congratulations & all the best to you, Johanna.
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