Hats off to the Scandinavians, who continue to make the world’s progressives green with envy. Even as Iceland faces economic catastrophe, the volcanic island nation has made history by naming the world’s first (for the most part) openly gay national leader. Johanna Sigurdardottir will become prime minister. (The New York Daily News says Norway briefly had an openly gay man as prime minister.)

The family-values types can just relax. Sigurdardottir has been married to her female companion for seven years.

BBC:

Ms Sigurdardottir is one of Iceland’s most popular politicians.

Her appeal has held up even as confidence in the government itself has plummeted, amid the economic crash, soaring unemployment and street protests.

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