There appears to be no middle ground between either fully supporting or absolutely opposing a proposed marriage bill from the Ministry of Justice which would extend the definition of “marriage” to cover “two individuals” instead of just “a man and woman”.
Most of the commentary that has been submitted to the parliamentary general committee reviewing the law has been positive. On board with the idea are such groups as the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, the Office of Human Rights, the Women’s Rights Society, and the Office of Human Rights.
However, several religious groups have expressed disdain for the proposed bill.
The Seventh Day Adventists say the bill is a seriously blow against the commands of the Bible, whereas another church called it “tragic and anti-Christian” to look at the marriage question as a human rights question.
A minister for the national church, María Ágústsdóttir, added that “I feel it goes against the nature of marriage as an institution, which was created for the purpose of the propagation of mankind, within the framework of having and raising children.”
The writer Steinunn Jóhannesdóttir took another tack, saying, “I do not want my life’s role disrespected by a law that forbids that I be called a woman.”