Sexual identity is not included in the draft for a new constitution recently put forward by the constitutional committee, a 25 government-appointed citizens tasked with drafting a new constitution for Iceland. On the other hand sexual orientation is included in the draft in article 8th under Chapter II: Human Rights1, which is an important step and a milestone to celebrate.
As this is likely to be the end results of the committee work transgenders in Iceland will be left without much needed constitutional protection. Quoting LGBT spokesperson "including sexual identity would have resulted in progressive changes happening much sooner and sped up our human rights campaigning 10 years or so". Including sexual identity would also have been important as the legislative framework protecting this hardly visible minority group is weak, if not broken.
Others LGBT spokespersons have pointed out that "while gay marriage is now allowed in Iceland, this does not mean that discrimination against gay and transgendered Icelanders has been eliminated. "The decision of the constitutional committee is unfortunately final, and it is quite unlikely that sexual identity will be defined in the new constitution," they say. "Discrimination based on sexual identity is a fact, and therefore other means of guaranteeing these rights are needed." (Grapevine).
1The article draft on Equality in Chapter II. Human Rights: "We are all equal before the law and shall enjoy human rights without discrimination, such as sex, age, genotype, geographic location, economic, disability, sexual orientation, race, color, opinion, politics, relationships, religion, language or social origin property, birth or other status. Men and women shall enjoy equal rights in all respects."
