Icelandic leader in milestone gay marriage

LGBT

Iceland's prime minister made history last week when she wed her longtime girlfriend, becoming the world's first head of government to enter a gay marriage. But fellow Nordic nations hardly noticed when 67-year-old Johanna Sigurdardottir tied the knot with her longtime partner–a milestone that would still, despite advances in gay rights, be all but inconceivable elsewhere. Scandinavia has had a long tradition of tolerance for alternative lifestyles–and cross-dressing lawmakers and homosexual bishops have become part of the landscape. "There is some kind of passion for social justice here," respected cross-dressing Swedish lawmaker Fredrick Federley said. "That everybody should be treated the same." Gay rights activists said Europe in general has a better record on accepting gays at the highest levels of government than the United States.