Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.08.2008, Síða 37

REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 12—2008 | 37
V í k i n
Reykjavik
Maritime Museum
V í k i n
Grandagarði 8 - 101 Reykjavík
Tel: 517 9400
Open daily from 11am to 5pm
Closed Mondays
w w w . s j o m i n j a s a f n . i s
L i v i n g M u s e u m b y t h e S e a
ARTICLE
The gay rights campaign in Iceland has been run-
ning since 1978. From an invisible group and an
oppressed minority to a strong organisation and
community, the Lesbians and Gay men in Iceland
have now gained social and legal rights, which is
celebrated in their once-a-year Gay Pride Festival
– a true celebration of the Gay community’s ambi-
tions and achievements. Grapevine was invited
along to review the highs and lows of the festivi-
ties in Reykjavík.
The true meaning of the festival was demon-
strated at the Gay Pride Parade on the 9th, which
headed down Laugavegur, and which had in al-
most every window some sort of support for the
festival, be it rainbow-coloured furniture displays
or rainbow tie-racks. Seeing this fearless celebra-
tion demonstrated by participants walking hand-
in-hand with the people they love, supported by
friends and family, was a truly emotional and
unforgettable experience. The parade ended with
a grand finale at an outdoor concert at Arnarholl
featuring singer Haffi Haff and was attended by
over 50,000 supporters.
Larus Ari Knutsson, Head of The National
Queer Organisation, explained one of the reasons
that this year’s festival had more resources and
energy put into it;
“There are more acts and more participants
in the parade; we like to believe there is more di-
versity and more to witness this week, more par-
ticipants because it’s more inclusive and more
family friendly. This wasn’t planned, but when we
started to parade, these people were just there
and cheering us on; it’s something we’re proud of.
It’s about celebrating together, you can see little
children and granddads and grandmas among
the spectators. Iceland is a small country – you
can probably argue in every family there may
be someone who is gay or someone who knows
someone, so it is easy to relate to it. People are
there to support gay rights, but also there to sup-
port someone they know. To show that person
that they are ok, but more importantly that every-
one is okay with that.”
The one place not everyone was welcome were
the men only/women only dances held at Organ
and Tunglið, where unsuspecting people of the
‘wrong sex,’ who had already started celebrating
the festival of sexual tolerance were asked, with
no explanation by door staff, to put down their
pints, leave their tables and go their separate
ways. “It’s tough because organisations are trying
to find ways to facilitate the Gay and Lesbian com-
munity. They are trying to find venues for gays to
meet gays and lesbians to meet lesbians. I think
it’s okay, but I can see the downside.” Oli Hjortur
Olafsson, co owner of Q-bar commented.
Pride and
Prejudice
BY STevIe wARD — pHoToS BY vALDíS THoR