Nov 01, 2006Articles: Homophobia Alive and Well on Denmark's Faroe Isles
By PW
(Faroe Isles, Denmark) - The government of the autonomous Danish province of the Faroe Isles has decided not to condemn discrimination based on sexual orientation. According to prevailing law, it's perfectly okay to discriminate against gays and lesbians there.
Bashing and discrimination aimed GLBT people aimed especially at those whose appearance is on the more obvious side is not uncommon on the small chain of islands out in the north Atlantic. There is no legal protection against brutality or open discrimination and taking any decisive action is therefore nearly impossible. Many residents apparently feel anti-GLBT behavior is quite in order.
Act Against Homophobia (AAH) has begun a petition drive to change the attitudes prevailing on the islands. The completed petition is to be turned over to the local parliament.
The Faroe Isles are an autonomous province within the Kingdom of Denmark, much like Greenland. However, in contrast to Denmark, the Faroe Isles do not belong to the European Union. In Denmark, all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by law.
The Faroe Isles are, however, a member in the United Nations through Denmark, and thus are bound to acknowledge and uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This begs the question: Is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights just so much theory, and not applicable to GLBT people in the Faroe Isles?
Act Against Homophobia (AAH) has begun a petition drive to change the attitudes prevailing on the islands. The completed petition is to be turned over to the local parliament. 
The Faroe Isles are, however, a member in the United Nations through Denmark, and thus are bound to acknowledge and uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This begs the question: Is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights just so much theory, and not applicable to GLBT people in the Faroe Isles?
