A new Gallup National Poll reveals that the vast majority of Icelanders believe their communities are welcoming places for LGBTQ+ people.
Over 89% of those who expressed an opinion said they felt their area is a good place for gay people to live. A decade ago, that number was slightly lower at 86%. However, more than a third of respondents said they did not know or had no opinion.
Of those surveyed, younger Icelanders were the most optimistic, with 99% of 18 to 29-year-olds saying they live in a good place for LGBTQ+ people. In contrast, only 76% of those aged 60 to 69 shared the same view.
Liberal Trend
Political leanings also played a role. Among those who would vote for the Viðreisn (Liberal Reform Party) party if elections were held today, 98% said their community was a good place for homosexuals. In comparison, supporters of the People’s Party were less likely to feel the same.
Respondents with lower income levels, limited formal education, or who planned to cast a blank ballot were more likely to believe they lived in less supportive environments. Interestingly, geography had no effect on attitudes. Among around 814 participants, including 80 who identified as LGBTQ+, all but three felt they lived in good areas—those three selected “neither good nor bad.”