Norway has expanded protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community by banning hate speech against transgender and bisexual people. While homosexual people have been afforded the same basic rights since 1981, that law has now been expanded to include trans and bisexual individuals, which is good news all around!
- The expansion passed on November 10. Norway didn’t even need to take this motion to a vote since the country’s parliament overwhelmingly supported the extension from the get-go. That’s exactly how it should be!
- Trans people especially need protection. As Minister of Justice and Public Security Monica Maeland told Thomson Reuters Foundation, “It is imperative that the protection against discrimination offered by the criminal legislation is adapted to the practical situations that arise.” This is because trans people are “an exposed group when it comes to discrimination, harassment and violence.”
- The new legislation offers protection to so many more people. While the previous language in the law mentioned those of “homosexual orientation,” that has now been changed to say “sexual orientation” so that more people are covered under the law. There are also additional mentions of gender identity and gender expression in the law.
- Anyone found guilty of violating the law could be in trouble. Those found guilty of hate speech could spend up to a year in prison if the comments were made in private and three years if they were made in public. Fines are also possible.
