Faced with economic disaster, Icelanders could care less that their prime minister is gay

People were outraged by the state of the economy. According to Reuters, about 6,000 people attended a recent protest. That's amazing when you consider Iceland's population is about 320,000. Of course, the government fell and a new Prime Minister was named.

What's attracting the attention of headline writers now is that Johanna Sigurdardottir is a lesbian, making her the world's first openly gay head of state. Sigurdardottir's sexual orientation is hardly making a ripple in Iceland. According to a journalist I heard interviewed on the BBC this morning, Icelanders could care less who their leaders lie next to in bed.

Before people start applauding Iceland's liberal political culture, the journalist -- whose name I did not catch -- points out the country was not always so progressive. About 30 years ago, a group of prominent Icelanders came out of the closet. The reaction was so vitriolic that some apparently fled the country.

These days, people could care less about whether their leaders are gay or if their Treasury Secretary forgets to pay his taxes.

They just want the economy to be fixed. How the people who are tasked with this spend their free time is of no importance.