Iceland review - 2019, Page 119

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Iceland Review
who is trans or intersex, who has personal knowl-
edge or experience on these issues. That’s some-
thing that I always feel is lacking.”
Trans healthcare differs from other kinds of
healthcare, Ugla asserts, and trans people need to
have more of a say in their treatment. “The medical
profession looks at people as patients or clients who
shouldn’t be involved in moulding their healthcare.
But this kind of healthcare is not only about some
kind of clinical help, it is about the social aspect,
first and foremost. That’s what makes trans health-
care different.”
Continuing the conversation
While some things have changed since 1996, others
have not. Trans and intersex people’s lives remain
hugely affected by the opinions and attitudes of gov-
ernments, institutions, and society at large. For that
effect to be positive, says Ugla, both groups need
more representation on the inside. “We as queer
people need to take power and space within the
institutions that make these rules, such as the World
Professional Association for Transgender Health.
That’s one way in which we can have an impact.”
There’s no question, however, that the Gender
Autonomy Act has already impacted Icelandic
organisations. “It forced all sorts of institutions to
consider how it affects them and what they have to
change in their regulations or procedures,” Ugla
says. “For example, the Icelandic Prison Service sent
in a comment when the act was passed saying ‘We
don’t know what we’re supposed to do or how we
should go about it, and we request a conversation.’
And we’re in discussions with them now about that.”
Just as importantly, the legislation has contin-
ued the conversation started back in 1996. “When
the act was passed, a lot of people realised they
had never really discussed trans issues. That can
happen with new legislation, people realise that
this is something they haven’t thought about before,
and all sorts of conversations start in the wake of
that. Like about gender registration and why that’s
important.”
The feedback hasn’t been universally positive,
Ugla notes, mentioning in particular a cartoon in
Morgunblaðið newspaper, featuring a man enter-
ing women’s showers at a public pool. “That’s an
example of when these laws are taken out of context
and there’s a misleading message about what they
mean.” That the act has experienced some backlash,
Ugla says, only makes clear that there’s still a long
way to go when it comes to ensuring trans people’s
rights, even in Iceland. “These laws showed we need
to have this conversation, and it is ongoing. But I find
that, in Iceland, we’re in a better position to have
these discussions.”
Trans people can change their officially registered gender
according to their lived experience, without having to meet
conditions for diagnosis or medical treatment.
Individuals can register as neither male nor female,
denoted with an “x” on documents.
Children under 18 can change their registered name and
gender with the consent of their parents or guardians.
Iceland’s strict naming laws have been loosened so that
any approved name can be given to individuals of any
gender.
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Iceland’s Gender
Autonomy Act ensures:
That can happen with new legislation, people realise ‘This is
something I haven’t thought about before,’ and all sorts of
conversations start in the wake of that.