We get a lot of requests from transgender travelers, and whether it is safe for them to travel around Iceland and use gendered facilities.
Transgender rights in Iceland have progressed in the past 10 yrs. 2019 a new bill was passed that allows transgender people to access health care based on an informed consent model. It also allows transgender people to change their name and gender through the National Registry without a medical diagnosis. Kids under 18 can also change their name and gender with parental consent and have access to trans related health care as needed.
In terms of gendered facilities such as swimming pools, especially in the capital area, most of them offer private, gender neutral and accessible locker rooms for people to use without any questions asked. Many transgender people have found these easier to use rather than traditionally gendered ones, as people are expected to shower naked before entering the pool. Some places will have more private showers or private cubicles within the gendered ones that are available to use. For those comfortable with using the women’s or men’s, transgender people are legally allowed to use them and some trans people acively do. For a list of trans friendly pools and facilities, click for more info.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch. For further information about Trans-Iceland association, please visit www.trans.samtokin78.is or www.facebook.com/transisland
