Page 1 ILGA – workshop: Forerunners working together in Europe/ 10/27/2011

Norwegian experiences in working with LGBT issues

Hanne Grasmo & Bjørn Lescher-Nuland

The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs

The National Knowledge Centre on LGBT

LGBT Knowledge Centre

• Norwegian LGBT Knowledge Centre

– Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs / Ministry for Children, Equality and Social Inclusion

• Hanne Grasmo – Project manager

• Bjørn Lescher-Nuland – Senior Advisor

• Hans Wiggo Kristiansen – Senior Advisor

Brief history of developments

• 1993: Civil unions allowed

• 1999 Living conditions survey,foundation :

• 2001 The first government white paper on LB policy

• 2008: Marriage act to allow same sex marriage, adoption and assisted pregnancy

Action plan 2009-2012

• 63 measures

• Cross-sectoral/interdisciplinary

• Mainstreaming

• Statusreport completed in 2011

• Roundtable on status – fall 2011

• The LGBT knowledge centre to be an ”enabler” and ”driving force”

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Promoting the human rights of LGBT in international work

• The foreign ministry/Embassies

• UN

• European Institutions

Page 5 ILGA – workshop: Forerunners working together in Europe/ 10/27/2011

Importance of research and good data

• New knowledge and data through research may enable:

– Visibility

– Making issues no longer marginal

– Enables dialogue even when traditional values are involved

• Norwegian study of LBG in the sami community

Some challenges

• Not all LGBT feel they are disadvantaged

– Focus only on negative findings might create more stigma

• Perspective: Difficulties vs. Strenghts

• Strategic use of data

• How to ask about sexual orientation and gender identity?

– Need for international standards

• Validity of data

– Representation and selection

• Good cooperation between authorities/commisioners, NGOs and researchers

To flow or clash with traditions?

• Marriage

– Same sex marriage: Approval of traditional values vs homosexual lifestyle?

– Forced marriage: an LGBT issue for the authorities.

– Where is valid data?

– International cooperation?

• Tolerance debate

- A demand to tolerate LGBT, especially for muslims.

- What about conservative christian views?

- On our own doorstep: trans/homophobia in public services?