Iceland Melts My Heart with First Open Lesbian Prime Minister

As we in the U.S. herald the election of our first African-American president as a civil rights victory, we remain in the relative Ice Age compared to countries like Iceland on open LGBT leadership and the affirmation of LGBT rights. Just yesterday, the world's first first openly-lesbian leader was appointed Prime Minister in Iceland.

As with Obama, the country is pinning its hopes on the popular 30-year political veteran Johanna Sigurdardottir to restore the troubled economy. However, unlike with Obama's historic election, Iceland is not making any big deal out of Sigurdardottir's identity. For more, including other countries' gay leaders, see this by the Huffington Post.

The U.S. also lags in human rights. Back in December of last year, albeit under the Bush administration, the U.S. could not even muster the moral courage that 66 other countries found to support a basic U.N. statement that

affirms the principle of universality: that all human beings, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are entitled to equal dignity and respect.

To read the Bush administration's lame excuse under the guise of "state rights," read this NY Times article:

For a list of the 66 countries, go to Pink News.

Let's hope under Obama, and with Hillary managing our international affairs, that we catch up with at least some of the more progressive countries of the world.