Three Women Recognized for Pivotal Work in Partner Egg Donation

LGBT+ Denmark has recently awarded the Årets Laks (The Salmon of the Year) prize to three prominent women who have been instrumental in legalizing partner egg donation in Denmark. This award is presented to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the rights of sexual minorities, and this year, the honors go to equality spokespersons Sólbjørg Jakobsen (Liberal Alliance – LA) and Christina Olumeko (The Alternative – ALT) as well as activist Helene Lykke.

In a press release, LGBT+ Denmark highlights that the issue of partner egg donation has been a key concern within the LGBT+ community for an extended period, and the desire has now finally been fulfilled. Helene Lykke initiated the process with a citizen’s proposal, while Sólbjørg Jakobsen and Christina Olumeko managed to unite forces in the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) by presenting a resolution that transcended their political differences. This collaboration has demonstrated that LGBT+ politics can go beyond traditional party lines.

The new legislation, which came into effect in January, allows a woman to donate eggs to her female partner, establishing a biological connection between both women and the child: one as the genetic mother and the other as the gestational mother.

Sólbjørg Jakobsen stated that the cooperation between Liberal Alliance and The Alternative sends a clear message to other parties that this matter revolves around family creation rather than party politics. Despite disagreements on other political issues, such as legal gender transition, she is pleased to find common ground with LGBT+ Denmark on this issue.

The Årets Laks prize, which has been awarded since 2003, was presented at a ceremony in Copenhagen coinciding with Copenhagen Pride’s emphasis on the conditions faced by minorities. Previous notable recipients include prominent figures such as Kasper Hjulmand and Helle Thorning-Schmidt for their contributions to advancing LGBT+ rights.