A country of 50,000 citizens sandwiched between Iceland and Norway, the Faroe Islands is one of the smallest nations on earth.
But on on July 27 more than 5,000 celebrants—including Reykjavik mayor Jón Gnarr—took the streets of the capital city, Torshavn, to celebrate LGBT Pride and press for full equality.
The event, the island’s first Pride celebration in five years, was produced by LGBT Føroyar which is also pressuring the government to endorse gay marriage and adoption. It is currently the only Nordic country not to do so. (Anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation were introduced in 2006.)
A new marriage-equality bill, expected to be introduced in the fall, has split the country’s parliament 50/50, an advance LGBT Føroyar says would have been “unthinkable” just a few years ago.
Click through for more images from Faroe Pride 2012
Photos: LGBT Føroyar
Nick
More like Faerie Islands, amirite?
Kevin
The Faroe Islands are a self-governing part of Denmark, not an independent country.
freddie
The Faroe Islands are not an independent country. They have a status within Denmark similar to Puerto Rico’s status within the United States.
C.D
Very cute. Good for them.
MartinDK
@realist: They are already highly homophobic 🙁 several party leaders refused to attend a dinner with the lesbian Prime Minister of Iceland…
Hephaestion
“The Faroe Islands have been a self-governing country within the Danish Realm since 1948. Over the years, the Faroese have taken control of most domestic matters. Areas that remain the responsibility of Denmark include military defence, police, justice, currency and foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands also has representatives in the Nordic Council as members of the Danish delegation.” – Wikipedia
Danny
The Faroe Islands are like Greenland (except Greenland has Civil Unions) – both are semi-autonomous parts of Denmark (which has marriage equality).
brent
It’s true denmark like many western european countries has marriage equality, but with the rising population of muslims and the low birthrate of europeans, i wonder how long this tolerance will last?