Following the collapse of the previous government, the Icelandic parliament has chosen Johanna Sigurdardottir to be the interim Prime Minister. Not only is it exciting to see a woman rise to the pinnacle of power in politics (even if it isn’t this country), but Sigurdordottir also happens to be a lesbian:
The woman expected to become Iceland’s interim prime minister is an openly gay former flight attendant who rose through the political ranks to lead a new leftist government.
Johanna Sigurdardottir, the island nation’s 66-year-old social affairs minister, began as an union organizer for flight attendants and is now among the country’s longest-serving lawmakers.
Both political parties forming Iceland’s new coalition government support her appointment — and a decision could be announced as early as Thursday.
It is also refreshing to see how Ms. Sigurdardottir is not judged by whether she is a woman or gay, but on her record. Even her opponents biggest complaint is that she is a “tax raiser”.
“She is a senior parliamentarian, she is respected and loved by all of Iceland,” said Environment Minister Thorunn Sveinbjarnardottir…
Conservative critics say Sigurdardottir’s leftist leanings and lack of business experience won’t help her fix the economy. “Johanna is a very good woman — but she likes public spending, she is a tax raiser,” Haarde said.
Sigurdardottir faces a difficult task of repairing the nation’s shattered economy and rebuilding public trust in government.
She has quite an impressive resume as a political activist and legislator too:
Sigurdardottir was a labor organizer when she worked as a flight attendant for Loftleidir Airlines — now Icelandair — in the 1960s and 1970s. She was first elected to Iceland’s parliament in 1978 and served twice as social affairs minister, from 1987-1994, and again since 2007.
Despite her veteran status, many Icelanders regard her as more independent than her fellow legislators.
“If there’s anyone who can restore trust in the political system it’s her,” said Eyvindur Karlsson, a 27-year-old translator. “People respect her because she’s never been afraid of standing up to her own party. They see her as someone who isn’t tainted by the economic crisis.”
Congratulations to PM Sigurdardottir and to the people of Iceland who seem to be more interested in competent government than relying on bigotry and stereotypes when choosing their leaders. Sigurdardottir made the following remark after a failed bid to become the leader of the Social Democratic Party in 1994:
”My time will come,” she predicted in her concession speech.
Well yes it has. And shame on leaders like Barack Obama whose homophobia and misogyny means that we will forever take a back seat to Iceland when it comes to showing the world how to really embrace diversity, tolerance, and equality.
Posted by garychapelhill 
