LGBTQ Students Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Intersex, Queer and Allies

Denmark has a long tradition of being inclusive to LGBT people. One of the world’s first LGBT associations was founded in Copenhagen in 1948, the world’s first male to female sex reassignment surgery was performed on a Dane in 1930 and the world’s first gay marriage took place in Copenhagen in 1989. To the right, you will find resources as to where you can meet likeminded people. Also, feel free to stop by Housing and Student Services and talk to our staff members who have been specially trained to advice LGBT students.

Liberal Denmark

World’s First Same-sex Civil Union
After the Danish parliament signed the same sex civil union act in 1989, life time partners and gay activists Axel Lundahl-Madsen and Eigil Eskildsen entered a civil union at the Copenhagen Town Hall. Upon their wedding day they adopted the surname Axgil which is a combination of their first names to signify their commitment to each other.
Eigil and Axel were a couple for 46 years until 1995; when Eigil Axigil died at the age of 73.

LGBTQ Resources

LGBT Danmark
Copenhagen has a fairly big LGBTQ community, which is open to people from all over the world. The biggest LGBT organization in Denmark is LGBT Danmark that was founded in 1948 by Axel Axgil. Find LGBT Danmark on Facebook.

BLUS
BLUS is an organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer students. The organization was founded in 1996 and serves as a social platform for LGBTQ students in and around Copenhagen. BLUS is based in the Student House and every Tuesday evening members manage the bar. Most Tuesdays BLUS also host events such as film screenings and political debates. BLUS works internationally and is associated with ILGA, IGLYO and ANSO. Find BLUS on Facebook.

ANSO
Association of Nordic and Baltic Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Organizations. Find ANSO on Facebook.

LGBT Ungdom
A subdivision of LGBT Danmark that focuses on young people. Find LGBT Danmark on Facebook.

PANGEA
Pangea is a sociopolitical group created by expats which main aim is connecting expats living in Copenhagen (the Öresund) either for a short period or for good. Find Pangea on Facebook.

SABAAH
Sabaah is an organization for LGBTQ persons with minority ethnic background and allies. Find Sabah on Facebook.

Pangea Women’s Club
The subgroup for bisexual, lesbian and trans women is a whole part of the International group, totally integrated in Pangea. The group gathers around activities for women. For more information click here.

Bisexuals – Bangea
Bangea is a subgroup within Pangea especially for bisexual expats living in Copenhagen. You can find more information on Bangea here.

Transgender
Pangea has a subsection for transgender people living in the Copenhagen area. They are working on raising awareness in Denmark about transpeople by becoming more visible, compiling educational information, holding workshops and participating in political activities to improve civil rights and healthcare for Transpeople. The Pangea Trans Group offers a network of support and friendship for anyone questioning their gender, thinking about transitioning, transitioning or post-transition. You can find more information on the Pangea Trans group here.

For a comprehensive overview of LGBT facilities in Copenhagen visit Outandabout.

Resources & Links

LGBT Danmark
BLUS
ANSO
LGBT Ungdom
PANGEA
SABAAH

Fact Box

Lili Elbe: First Sex-reassignment Surgery
The Danish artist Lili Elbe née Einar Mogens Wegener was the first male to go under male to female sex reassignment surgery. Research indicates that Lili Elbe was born as intersex, but she identified herself as a male for the majority of her life. She did however start wearing female attire from 1913. She went through sex reassignment surgery in 1930 and lived as a woman until her death in 1931.

LGBTQ students are right to feel anxious about certain aspects of the study abroad experience. For me, Copenhagen was the perfect place to spend a year as a gay student. The Danes are a very progressive people who don't intrude on others' business, so I never had to worry that I wouldn't be accepted or that I would be targeted by discrimination. There is no real threat of violent crime in Copenhagen, and Danes are very open-minded about sexuality, so things like hate crimes were never a concern as they might be in a more dangerous, less tolerant country...

Ian Higham DIS Alumnus, George Washington University

... You will find that in Denmark, there is less of a fixation on traditional gender norms than in the United States, making it easier to express yourself. The Copenhagen gay community is particularly welcoming, and there are lots of ways to get involved in it and befriend other LGBTQ individuals - city-wide student organizations, the DIS buddy program and gay nightlife are just some of the options; LGBTQ students, during my time at DIS, had a tendency to meet more locals and feel more integrated than many other students. Copenhagen is fabulous.

Ian Highman DIS Alumnus, George Washington University
Denmark: DIS - Danish Institute for Study Abroad. Vestergade 5-7, 1456 Copenhagen. Phone: (+45) 3311 0144, Fax: (+45) 3393 2624
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