According to the Associated Press, Iceland is about to make history by having the world's first openly lesbian Prime Minister.
Openly gay woman is Iceland's 1st female PM
Johanna Sigurdardottir has been selected to take the PM's job by the two left-leaning parties that will form the new government following the collapse of the current conservative government headed by former Prime Minister Geir Haarde. The existing coalition government fell last week following massive public protest resulting from the country's severe financial and economic crisis. As a result, a new government will be formed with a coalition of
Sigurdardottir's Social Democratic Party and the Left-Green alliance.
(For great analysis and background on Icelandic politics, please check out susie dow's excellent summary of Icelandic politics from several days ago.
According to the AP, Sigurdardottir, 66, has served in the Althing (Iceland's parliament) since 1978. She was Social Affairs minister in the most recent coalition government. Prior to elected office, she was labour organizer while working for the national airline in the 1960's and 70s.
The AP further reports "She lives with journalist Jonina Leosdottir, who became her civil partner in 2002, and has two sons from a previous marriage."
For more info about this remarkable woman, check out the Wikipedia listing for Jóhanna_Sigurðardóttir
Like Obama in DC, Sigurdardottir is inheriting a country in severe economic crisis (although Iceland's situation is undoubtedly more dire than the US.) She will face the challenge of satisfying the needs of a population that has been battered by massive inflation caused by the collapse of the Icelandic currency (the krona) and the widespread impact of the complete melt-down of the country's massive international financial businesses.
She will serve as Prime Minister pending likely new elections in May. Her future tenure would depend on the results of those elections, which are expected to be won by a left coalition, with the surging Left-Green movement likely to lead all other parties (including Sigurdardottir's Social Democrats).
To the best of my knowledge, Iceland will make history by having the first openly lesbian or gay head of government anywhere in the world. It is a milestone well worth celebrating (even under the difficult conditions faced in Reykjavik). Thanks to homoaffectional for letting us know that another Scandinavian country already had a openly gay male PM --Per-Kristian Foss served as acting Prime Minister for about a day - he was standing in for the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister when they were both out of town. So Johanna is the first lesbian, and second gay person to hold this title.
Congratulations Johanna - and best of luck on this new and challenging job!