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, 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.
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.