LGBT rights in the Faroe Islands

Age of consent
Homosexuality has been legal in the Faroe Islands since 1933 when it was decriminalized in Denmark. At that time the age of consent was set at 18 for same-sex relations. Then in 1988, the age of consent became gender-neutral and equal at 15.

Anti-Discrimination legislation
Discrimination against gays and lesbians on the islands is rare but became a hot topic in September 2006 after Rasmus Rasmussen, a 25-year-old openly gay musician and popular radio host, allegedly was assaulted by five men in Torshavn, the capital. Police were reluctant to investigate the case as a hate crime, saying discrimination against gays was not illegal on the Faeroes, at that time - Then on 15 December 2006, in a 17-15 vote, Faeroese legislators included the words "sexual orientation" in the islands' anti-discrimination law §266b.

Thus, the Faroe Islands is one of the last countries in Western Europe and the last country in Northern Europe, which introduced the legal protection of homosexuals from discrimination.

Proposals for registered partnerships
In 1989, Denmark became the first country to legalize same-sex partnerships, but the Faeroe Islands, in 2008, opposes such partnerships or unions. Debate is on-going on the Faeroe Islands to provide for registered partnerships similar to those in Denmark. In November 2007, a registered partnership bill died in Committee by a 16-4 vote.