Living Conditions of LGBTI People in Rural Areas of the Nordic Region

Studies show that the living conditions of LGBTI people are influenced by where in the Nordic region they live. In rural areas, access to support, networks and meeting places for LGBTI people may be limited, while norms around gender and sexuality can affect people’s ability to live openly. At the same time, research paints a more nuanced picture of life outside the urban areas, with experiences of belonging, local engagement and inclusive communities also emerging.

To strengthen knowledge and Nordic cooperation in this area, NIKK has carried out a coordinated initiative in 2026 focusing on the living conditions of LGBTI people in rural areas of the Nordic region. The initiative consists of two publications and a targeted call for proposals under the Nordic LGBTI Fund.

One of the publications, Rights and opportunities for LGBTI people in the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland, maps key actors, policies, legislation and ongoing initiatives in the field of LGBTI equality in the three autonomous territories. The mapping highlights the conditions for Nordic cooperation projects and provides knowledge relevant to the 2026 targeted call under the Nordic LGBTI Fund.

The second publication brings together existing research on the living conditions of LGBTI people in rural areas of Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Åland, as well as Sápmi. It focuses on settlement patterns, the experiences of young LGBTI people, queer organising and meeting places, and the role of religion. By comparing and analysing previous research, the publication highlights both challenges and opportunities, as well as important knowledge gaps.

The amount of research available varies considerably across the Nordic region. Most research comes from Norway and Sweden, while significantly less is available from areas including the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

As a third part of the initiative, the Nordic Council of Ministers is issuing a targeted call for proposals through the Nordic LGBTI Fund in 2026. One reason for the targeted call is the relatively limited participation of organisations from the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland in projects previously funded by the Nordic LGBTI Fund. Priority is therefore given to applications in which the lead applicant is based in one of these areas. The aim is to provide actors in the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland with better opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange, strengthen Nordic cooperation on equal rights and opportunities for LGBTI people, and increase knowledge about the barriers that limit LGBTI people’s rights and opportunities in these territories.

Together, the two publications and the targeted funding initiative are expected to contribute to a stronger knowledge base, greater knowledge exchange and better conditions for Nordic cooperation on the living conditions of LGBTI people across the Nordic region.

Timespan for the project
2026

Commissioned by
Nordic Council of Ministers

Contact
Deepati Forsberg

Budget
852 000 DKK