Johanna Sigurðardóttir

With a long history of refreshingly liberal thinking and pioneering LGBTQ+ policies, it is little surprise that the majority of Icelanders barely batted an eyelid when an openly gay woman was elected to become their Prime Minister in 2009.

Starting her working life as a flight attendant for Icelandic Airlines’ in the 1960s, Johanna Sigurðardóttir’s political career may have got off to an unconventional start, however she soon got a taste for politics through involvement in airline trade unions - campaigning for the rights of her fellow cabin crew. 

By 1978, Johanna had ditched the hostess’ neck scarf and committed to politics full-time after being elected as MP for the Social Democratic Party. Over the next few decades, she steadily worked her way up the Icelandic parliament (known as the Althing) before her successful election to Prime Minister. 

Taking Iceland’s helm in 2009 came with the unfortunate task of navigating through the global economic crash, but Johanna was able to successfully steer her country through these financially turbulent times. She revived a crippled economy all whilst passing landmark laws championing LGBT+ rights and gender equality – including instating legislation that guarantees women a minimum of 40% of all seats on the boards of public and private companies). 

Johanna married her civil-partner of eight years, author Jonina Leósdóttir, in 2010, taking advantage of the new Marriage Equality act her own government had just passed. Frequently crediting her success to her gender, Johanna is a staunch believer in the power of women to tread carefully with reason in political situations where male counterparts may take rash, impulsive action. 

Johanna retired in 2012 and remains Iceland’s longest serving member of parliament, notable for her overwhelmingly positive opinion polls, level-headed leadership and, most significantly, her status as the world’s first openly LGBT+ head of government.