For #LGBThistorymonth I will be posting an #lgbtq #womaninhistory every day. Today is Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, who became the world’s first openly LGBT head of government when elected as the Prime Minister of Iceland in 2009.

Jóhanna was active in the trade union movement before entering politics in 1978 when she was elected as an MP. She served as Iceland’s Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security, from 1987 to 1994, and from 2007 until 2009 when she became Prime Minister.

Jóhanna was Iceland’s first female Prime Minister and the world’s first openly LGBT head of government. Her government banned strip clubs, paying for nudity in restaurants, and other means of employers profiting from employees’ nudity. Jóhanna commented; “The Nordic countries are leading the way on women’s equality, recognizing women as equal citizens rather than commodities for sale.”

In September 2012, Jóhanna announced she would not seek re-election and retired from politics as Iceland’s longest serving member of Parliament.