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# Norway bans transphobic and biphobic hate speech
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/norway-bans-transphobic-and-biphobic-hate-speech/
- Published: 2020-11-15T13:13:40.000Z
- Updated: 2020-11-15T10:16:37.000Z
- Description: On Tuesday November 10, the Norwegian government updated the country’s penal code to outlaw hate speech against transgender and bisexual people.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Bisexual, Europe, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Europe, Norway, pansexual, queer, Trans Rights, Transgender

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/oslo-pride-3-1.jpg)

A Pride event in Oslo

On **Tuesday November 10**, the Norwegian government updated the country’s penal code to outlaw hate speech against transgender and bisexual people. It was passed on its second reading without a vote after representatives voted in favour of it on first reading. According to [**Openly**](https://www.openlynews.com/i/?id=a4f41865-1053-4698-a9b3-8fe2f21a38af&ref=scenemag.co.uk), those identifying as gay or lesbian have been protected from hate speech under 1981 laws, with anyone found guilty facing up to a year in prison for private comments and three years for public comments.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/oslo-pride-martin-fjellanger-1.jpg)

The revised bill protects those who identify as bisexual, pansexual or queer, and bans hate speech based on a person’s gender identity and/or expression, thus safeguarding trans and gender diverse Norwegians. **Birna Rorslett**, vice president of the **Association of Transgender People** in **Norway**, said they are ‘relieved’ as the trans community have lacked legal protection for ‘many years’. Minister of justice and public security, **Monica Maeland**, added: *“*\[Trans people are\] *an exposed group when it comes to discrimination, harassment and violence…It is imperative that the protection against discrimination offered by the criminal legislation is adapted to the practical situations that arise.”*

[Norway](https://www.equaldex.com/region/norway?ref=scenemag.co.uk) is one of the leading European countries for LGBTQ+ rights as it is the 5th most equal in the continent. It was one of the first to allow trans people to legally change their gender without a medical diagnosis in 2016, and has legal protections against housing and employment discrimination. However, advocacy group [**ILGA-Europe**](https://rainbow-europe.org/?ref=scenemag.co.uk#8652/0/0) have reported an increase in LGBTQ+ hate crimes in recent years; a trend which has been seen in multiple European countries such as **Poland** and **Hungary**.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/pride2-1.jpg)