Iceland's Gay Prime Minister Steps Down

The world's first openly gay prime minister has stepped down on schedule.

Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir retired from politics yesterday ahead of general elections today. Sigurdardottir became the world’s first openly gay or lesbian head of state in February of 2009 when she was appointed Prime Minister of Iceland after Independence Party leader Geir Haarde resigned over his handling of the country’s then financial crisis. Iceland’s voters gave her appointment the seal of approval two month later, giving her the task of fixing the country’s financial crisis.

Iceland Approves Gay Marriage

Today Iceland's parliament voted unanimously to legalize gay marriage!

Iceland, the only country in the world to have an openly gay head of state, passed a law on Friday allowing same-sex partners to get married in a vote which met with no political resistance. The Althingi parliament voted 49 to zero to change the wording of marriage legislation to include matrimony between "man and man, woman and woman," in addition to unions between men and women. Iceland, a socially tolerant island nation of about 320,000 people, became the first country to elect an openly gay head of state in 2009 when Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir became prime minister after being nominated by her party. "The attitude in Iceland is fairly pragmatic," said Gunnar Helgi Kristinsson, a political scientist at the University of Iceland. "It (gay marriage) has not been a big issue in national politics -- it's not been controversial."

Til hamingju, Iceland!

Lesbian PM Takes Reins In Iceland

The world's first openly gay leader takes power in Iceland today.

Johanna Sigurdardottir, 66, is to become interim leader until new elections are held in May following the fall of the administration of Geir Haarde amid huge public protests about the country's economic crisis. The country's social affairs minister, Ms Sigurdardottir has been installed as head of an interim centre-left coalition featuring her Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green movement.

"Now we need a strong government that works with the people," she told reporters, adding that her new administration was likely to be sworn in on Saturday. Doubts remain, however, as to whether Ms Sigurdardottir can retain power after May's elections as her Alliance party trails the Left-Green movement in the polls. However, her appointment marks a historic milestone for the gay and lesbian community worldwide. She lives with a journalist, Jonina Leosdottir, with whom she was joined in a 2002 civil partnership, and has two sons from a previous marriage.

Sigurdardottir is a former flight attendant.

RELATED: Since I first mentioned this story, I've gotten a number of emails disputing the claim that Sigurdardottir is the world's first gay leader. Some have mentioned U.S. president James Buchanan and others have cited various kings and popes. The key word here, of course, is "openly". And while centuries ago certain kings and popes may have made no secret of their same-sex desires, the concept of gayness is certainly a relatively modern invention.

Lesbian Prime Minister For Iceland?

Icelandic pol Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir is poised to become the world's first openly gay prime minister.

The current Minister for Social Affairs, Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir of the Social Democrats, said she is prepared to assume the position of prime minister as long as she senses that her position is backed by sufficient trust. Foreign Minister and chairwoman of the Social Democrats Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir proposed that Sigurdardóttir replace Geir H. Haarde, chairman of the Independence Party, as prime minister yesterday, Fréttabladid reports.

Sigurdardóttir said the idea had only been discussed with her yesterday morning. Her first choice of a coalition is a minority government with the Left-Greens and backing from the Progressive Party. “Another option is a minority government with the Social Democrats and passivity of the Left-Greens and Progressive Party.”

On whether she had discussed the matter with the Left-Greens, Sigurdardóttir replied, “I’m always talking with the Left-Greens.” According to an opinion poll undertaken by Capacent Gallup in December 2008, Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir is the most popular minister—73 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with her work. Sigurdardóttir is also the only minister whose popularity had increased compared to a similar poll undertaken in December 2007. If Sigurdardóttir does become prime minister, she will be the first woman to serve as prime minister in the country’s history and also the first openly gay prime minister in the world.

Andrew Sullivan suggests that prime minister of Iceland is the "second worst job in the world" due to the country's bankrupt status. Last week's riots there may be the springboard to Sigurdardóttir taking over.

Last week, riots erupted in bankrupt Iceland over rising costs and an ineffective government response to the economic crisis. 8,000 Icelanders turned out for a protest, calling for Prime Minister Geir Haarde's immediate resignation, the dissolution of Parliament, a new constitution, and an investigation into any wrongdoing that might underlie bankrupt Iceland's economic woes. Last week's protest, the largest in Iceland's history, prompted the Prime Minister to set the election for May 9 and promise not to run for re-election. But disgruntled Icelanders were unhappy with the May date and called for the Prime Minister's immediate ouster. Iceland's Commerce Minister Bjorgvin Sigurdsson resigned two days before Haarde announced his plans to resign.

Whatever the reason, it's LGBT history in the making.