Reykjavík Grapevine - 31.07.2009, Síða 31

A WORk IN PROGRESS
Such impressive progress might
lead some to believe that, the still
contentious issue of gay marriage
aside, the work of the gay rights
movement is largely done – in the
Western world at least.
However, legality and legislation is one
thing, real world experience is quite
another. Sobering crime statistics
recently released from both the US
and the UK bring this very reality into
sharp relief.
The Advocate, a leading gay issues
magazine, recently reported a 28%
increase in anti gay bias killings
in the US in 2008, the highest rate
since 1999. In the UK, official police
statistics have shown an alarming
increase in violence towards gay
and transgendered people across
the country in the last 12 months.
Nationally, Scotland Yard statistics
reveal a 9% rise in homophobic crime
while Greater Manchester police
recorded a staggering 63% increase. As
Superintendent Gerry Campbell of the
Metropolitan police aptly concluded:
“Homophobia cannot be considered a
thing of the past, it is on the increase”
These statistics underscore the
reality that mere legislation is not
enough and clearly more must be done
in the field of education to counter anti
gay attitudes, particularly in young
male adults. There are two stark facts
that underscore this urgent need.
1. Gay teenagers are three times more likely to contemplate or
attempt suicide than their straight
counterparts.
2. According to recent research conducted by Stonewall UK,
to accuse someone of being gay has
become the single most popular school
ground slur in Britain today.
The school system remains the
key public battleground in the fight
against homophobia. It is undoubtedly
an incubator of future prejudice
and violence, but it equally has the
potential to promote awareness,
tolerance and inclusiveness. Christian
fundamentalists, particularly in the
US, have long understood this and
have fought tooth and nail to prevent
the development of proactive policy
to promote inclusiveness in public
schools.
A WORLD OF HATE
For all the work still to be done and
attitudes still to be changed, the major
cities of Europe and the US socially,
culturally and institutionally are at
the vanguard of gay rights progress.
As annual gay rights marches across
Europe attract mainstream audiences
in the millions, it can be easy to forget
that in large swathes of the world
such freedoms remain the stuff of
fantasy. The most virulently anti-gay
nations are, undoubtedly, the more
fundamentalist Islamic states, such
as Iran where homosexuality remains
illegal, subject to imprisonment and
in many cases torture of the most
hideous variety. Another major
homophobic black spot is the Russian
Federation, embodied by the staunchly
anti gay Mayor of Moscow, Yury
Luzhkov, who has banned gay pride
marches in the city and describes
homosexuality as “satanic.” The first
ever staging of Eurovision in Russia in
May also coincided with the banning
and violent suppression of the Slavic
gay pride parade that, according to
march organizer Nikolai Alexseev,
unwittingly did more to publicize
gay rights issues in Russia than any
other event. “We should give Luzhkov
a medal! His violation of our right
to protest has given us a remarkable
platform.”
As heartening as such victories are,
the grim reality remains that across
Russia, the former Soviet Republics
and even newly minted Eastern
European members of the E.U., the
(relative) rights and freedoms enjoyed
by the gay community in the West are
still light years away.
GET UP, STAND UP!
On Saturday August 8, months
of dedicated work on costumes,
f loats and dance routines will come
to fruition as the annual Reykjavík
Gay Pride parade winds its colourful
way down main street Laugavegur.
It will be cheered on by residents in
the tens of thousands, a testament to
the remarkable progress that Iceland
has made in its acceptance of the gay
community. Amid the pageantry and
the play-acting, let us spare a thought
for the dykes and drag queens of
Greenwich Village, whose courage and
defiance helped to make the freedoms
that we enjoy today possible.
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 11 — 2009
19
Reykjavik gay pride celebrations have in recent years become one of the biggest week-
ends in the Icelandic calendar, drawing crowds comparable to the local Independence
day celebrations. For older members of the LGBT community, it is a far cry from the bad
old days, when such was the hostility towards openly gay men that some felt compelled
to leave the country altogether. In less than twenty years, however, Iceland has seen a
revolution in gay rights reform, making the country one of the most progressive nations
in the world.
Iceland also has the recent distinction of electing the first ever openly gay prime
minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardottir, who took office in February. The following are some of
the major legislative milestones on the path to equality
1940 Homosexuality legalized for the first time
1992 Equal age of consent
Anti discriminations laws in employment
1996 Anti discrimination laws in all other areas
“Gay marriage” legalised, referred to as confirmed cohabitation
2006 Joint adoption rights for same sex couples
Legal right to change gender
Legal right to IVF (In vitro fertilization) and surrogacy for all individuals and couples
Parentage for lesbians who undergo IVF
MSMs (“Men who have sex with men”) allowed to donate blood
With such a comprehensive range of rights established, a common (straight) assump-
tion is that there is really nothing left to fight for. This was the question I put to Hafsteinn
Þórólfsson, co-founder of St. Styrmir, the Icelandic gay football club. “It is true that we
have come a long way in legislative terms, but there is still a lot of work to be done in
changing attitudes, particularly in the field sport, which is one area of public life that
remains stubbornly homophobic.”
This reality is borne out by the fact that the world of football still awaits it first openly
gay player.
“In fact, our team has just returned from competing in the World Outgames in Copenha-
gen. Those have been instrumental in challenging the absurd stereotype that gays are
somehow incapable of playing sports.”
On Saturday, Hafsteinn and his teammates will line up with the dykes on bikes and
divas to add yet another dimension to the diversity that is Reykjavik Gay Pride.
SAMPLING GAY LIFE IN ICELAND
Barbara - Laugavegur 22, 101 Reykjavík
Barbara has been serving up a lively atmosphere for Reykjavík’s gay community (and
anybody else who just wants to dance and have a good time) since it opened for busi-
ness last winter. Located at the site of legendary gay hangout 22 at Laugavegur 22
(actually, despite it’s status as “legendary,” 22 was never “officially gay”), Barbara offers
a dance-space at the first level – which is often packed with sweaty bodies – while
the second level of the bar offers a place to sit, drink and chat and another in which to
smoke.
jómfrúin - Lækjargötu 4, 101 Reykjavík
Gay operated “Smörrebröd” house serving traditional Danish cuisine. Jómfrúin is a
great place for breakfast, brunch, lunch or even a drink on weekend-afternoons, espe-
cially during their celebrated summer outdoor jazz-concert series.
Samtökin 78 - Laugavegur 3, 101 Reykjavík - www.samtokin78.is
Iceland’s steadfast gay rights coalition, Samtökin 78, has done an amazing job during
the past decades, and continues to do so. Aside from political struggle, Samtökin 78
also runs a gay and lesbian library at its premises, organises social events and provides
its members and other gay Icelanders with various invaluable services. Their website
features many interesting articles, contact information and a plethora of other things
gay travellers to Iceland will find useful.
GayIce - www.gayice.is
GayIce is a very useful. Basically, an intensely informative English-written website that
details the various goings-on of the Icelandic gay scene. They also offer chat-forums
and a newsletter.
Q – The Queer Student Organization - www.queer.is
Q (formerly: The Coalition of Gay and Lesbian Students) is a relatively young organisation
that caters to gay and lesbian university students. It provides them with a means to orga-
nise, as well as offering up an often-packed schedule of activities during school season.
MSC Ísland - www.msc.is/ENGLISH.HTM
This is where you learn about MSC Ísland and its schedule, where to go, how to dress
and who to meet.
From Ignorance to
Inclusiveness
Iceland´s remarkable gay journey
“Manchester police recorded a staggering 63% rise
in homophobic crime last year”
jOHN BOYCE
HÖRðUR SVEINSSON