Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.08.2008, Blaðsíða 8

8 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 11—2008
INTERvIEW By JaMes CrugnaLe
Way back in 1996, Iceland became one of the first
nations in the world to give gays and lesbians civil
union rights, as well as thorough protection from
discrimination. Most recently, in fact only a few
weeks ago, same-sex couples were finally allowed
to have their relationships legally confirmed by
church ministers. While it isn’t quite full-marriage
equality, most of the liberties granted by hetero-
marriage are included.
“[Iceland’s civil union law] includes all the
same legal rights as does the traditional hetero-
sexual marriage, and there is only a question of
time until we see one unified
marriage law for Icelanders
regardless of sex and sexual
orientation,” says Gay Pride or-
ganiser, Þorvaldur Kristinsson.
“To make it clear what a prog-
ress we have seen, I like to point
out that the revised versions of
same-sex registered partner-
ship law in 2000 and 2006 gave
full adoptive rights to same-sex
couples as well as full right to
seek assistance in official fertil-
ity clinics.”
Moreover, Iceland is one of the biggest Eu-
ropean LGBT celebration hotspots of the summer
with Reykjavík’s cheerfully raucous Gay Pride fes-
tival taking place August 7 to 10. Organizers affec-
tionately declare the event “the biggest little pride
in the world!”
Despite the present ubiquity of the great
strides LGBT people have accomplished in Ice-
land, the movement has been through hard times
and much greater adversity. “Until the 1970s les-
bians and gay men were practically invisible in
Icelandic society which surrounded them with
contempt and massive silence,” says Kristinsson.
“Their reaction was either to hide their sexual
identity completely or leave the country, correctly
termed as sexual political refugees. The radi-
cal change we have seen in the last 30 years has
mainly been based on a massive educational and
legislative work led by Samtökin 78, the Icelandic
national organisation of queer people. A close co-
operation with several MPs led to several impor-
tant recommendations in Alþingi.”
This year, Samtökin 78 celebrates its 30th
anniversary. As Iceland’s only gay rights organi-
sation, the organisation provides a safe space for
LGBT people as well as allies to gather and organ-
ise. The group also boasts an umbrella network
comprised of similar other subgroups including
LGBT students & youth as well as parents and vari-
ous other caucuses.
Executive director of the organisation, Lárus
Ari Knútsson, says that Iceland should be consid-
ered a role model to the world on LGBT matters.
“The Nordic countries have been the front run-
ners on this issue, we’ve learned from the others;
there’s definitely been a strong collaboration.”
DESPITE ADvANCEMENTS,
bARRIERS REMAIN
Knútsson acknowledges though that while Ice-
land has made great strides, there is still a way to
go to ensure greater equality for
LGBT people. “Unfortunately,
we have not reached the same
peak as Norway. What Ice-
land has done is allowing for
churches to marry if the priest
will agree; Norway has said,
‘Everyone can get married, deal
with it.’”
Knútsson also notes
that the rights of transgen-
dered people are limited and
medical services required for
their needs are far and few be-
tween. “Icelandic law is quite unclear about the
rights and status of transgendered people,” says
Kristinsson. “I see it as our most important task
here to establish a parliamentarian committee to
investigate the legal and social situation of trans-
sexual people in Iceland, and suggest progressive
improvements, so important for their happiness
and well-being.”
PUbLIC SENTIMENT REMAINS SUPPORTIvE
Contemporary public attitudes in Iceland have
been growing more accepting of the LGBT com-
munity. “Since the early 1990s, opinion polls have
shown a surprising change of values in society
and express in fact more respect and tolerance
towards gay men and lesbians than in other west-
ern societies,” says Kristinsson. “Although the situ-
ation is almost the best imaginable right now, we
must bear in mind that new generations appear
every year and therefore our fight for human rights
– as well as for the social security and well-being
of gays and other queer people – is a never-ending
story especially in terms of educational and infor-
mative work. Let us bear in mind that historically
speaking we belong to a culture which has always
been hostile towards queers. Although being
grateful for the enlightenment which character-
ises the modern Iceland, I am always prepared for
some unexpected swing in weather.”
GAY PRIDE fEST
The annual Gay Pride festival is just around the
corner and when asked how big he expects the
turnout to be this year, Kristinsson said it would
depend on the weather. “Last year we saw some
75.000 guests in the Reykjavík city centre. That
makes about one fourth of the nation. I would be
quite happy to see some 100.000 this time!”
Kristinsson also stresses that locals are
very welcoming of LGBT visitors who are coming
to the festivities. “A great part of the people who
attend Reykjavík Gay Pride is heterosexual, our
families and friends, and without this supportive
atmosphere, there would hardly be such a big cel-
ebration in Reykjavík. The general heterosexual
support makes our festivities quite unique in the
world and our queer visitors grasp this particular
spirit immediately as they arrive,” says Kristinsson.
“The number of foreign visitors have increased by
every year and many of them come again and
again!”
As the controversy over gay
rights continues to seethe over
heatedly and caustically in the
United States, like freshly expulsed
volcanic lava from Mt. Hekla,
here in Iceland cooler heads have
prevailed and much progress has
since been achieved.
aLthough the situation is aL-
Most the Best iMaginaBLe right
now, we Must Bear in MinD
that new generations appear
every year anD therefore our
fight for huMan rights – as
weLL as for the soCiaL seCu-
rity anD weLL-Being of gays anD
other queer peopLe – is a never-
enDing story …
The Biggest Little Pride in the World
How much has changed for Iceland’s LGBT community in the past 30 years?
The first same-sex church
marriage in Iceland
INTERvIEW
On July 2, 2008, Katrín Þóra Víðisdóttir and Erla
Björk Pálmadóttir became the first same-sex cou-
ple to be officially blessed by an Icelandic church,
at Melstaðarkirkja in Miðfjörður. Víðisdóttir said it
felt “very good to lead the path” and shared the
details of their nuptial celebration with the Grape-
vine:
How does it feel for you to finally make your
vows official in a church?
It feels very good to be finally accepted in the
church just as everyone else. Now the fact of be-
ing gay doesn’t make you any less of a person than
if you are straight. We don’t have the same law [as
straight couples], but the law we have is just as
good. There are, of course, things to fix and make
better, make new words for a couple of things and
then it will be perfect. In Icelandic, the words we
use for wedding, husband and wife [et al] does
not feel right. And even though we are married,
my wife won’t get any of our stuff like furniture,
the house, car and so on if it is on my name as
I have no papers that say that she is the rightful
owner after I die. They will have to fix this. But of
course, we will live happily ever after!
How long did you have to wait for this to hap-
pen?
Actually, we didn’t have to wait very long, just
about four days. Of course, we have been waiting
for this for a very long time but we had no idea
that this would come anytime soon, so we had
just made plans to get married in the [District
Commissioner]’s office. Just the two of us were go-
ing, and of course, our sisters, because they were
our witnesses to get married. Our plan was to go
there the morning of our wedding day, and then
we were going to drive north when the legal stuff
was out of the way and there we were going to
have good wishes in the church with our family
and friends afterwards, dinner, drinks and fun for
everyone.
The priest, Sigurður Grétar Sigurðsson, then
phoned us a few days before the special day and
told us that the new law was at last here. We could
do the whole thing in the church! We were, of
course, very happy with this. So the plan changed
a little but it was no problem. We didn’t have to
change anything but just cancel the [appointment
with the District Commissioner]. But we had no
idea that we were going to be the first gay couple
to get married in a church. That was just a happy
surprise!
What do you feel is the historical significance
of this?
The historical significance of this is that, finally,
gay people are accepted by the church. It means
that now people are accepting us just the way we
are. They are accepting the fact that we have feel-
ings too, and we can love just as much as every-
one else. And there’s nothing wrong about it. We
are people too and should have all the same rights
as every other person in the world. Happily ever
after, you know?
Happily Ever
After
By JaMes CrugnaLe
theSe lego men are happIly marrIed under our cool new law
SAMTöKIN 78
(The National Queer
Organization)
Laugavegur 3, (4th floor)
Tel.: 552 7878
www.samtokin78.is
The organisation hosts an
open house at its community
centre on Monday and Thurs-
day nights from 20:00 to 22:30.