Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.08.2019, Side 56

L IF E , T R AV EL & EN T ER TA INMEN T IN ICEL A ND
Issue 13 × 2019
August 2nd—August 15th
www.grapevine.is
LAST WORDS
When History
Repeats Itself
Words: Bára Halldórsdóttir
Photo: Art Bicnick
Recently, new laws for gender registration
were passed in Iceland and of course one of
the largest newspapers ran some incredi-
bly tactless comic depicting a trans person
at the pool. The “why are you so sensitive,
it’s just a joke” discourse started the sec-
ond its crassness was pointed out.
It hurt me, as my spouse is trans, and
doesn’t dare go swimming; my child is
also trans, and has only recently gotten up
the nerve to go to the pool and I know of at
least three trans adults that have allowed
themselves to use the men’s and women’s
locker rooms, some with my help.
It was as if this particular comic was
drawn from the body self-image of those
who are trying to take the unbelievably
difficult step of coming out from under
the shadow of fear. Men and women with
bodies that are different, due to disability,
accidents, weight or their own damaged
self-image.
I didn’t feel great about this, but I wasn’t
in the mood to argue with people on so-
cial media. Then I saw news from Poland
of a 4,000-strong protest against a queer
pride march featuring 1,000 people, many
of whom were attacked. Violence and pro-
tests against people who are different isn’t
new, but it’s becoming more common with
the rise of people like Trump and Duterte.
Just a few years ago, I believed that we were
making progress, and that little by little,
people could be themselves without need-
ing to fear violence.
Violence and exclusion begins in a con-
senting environment. And that environ-
ment begins to form when people dip a toe
into these little jokes that tell minorities
to be careful, because their environment is
not safe. These minorities laugh along, not
wanting to be seen as “snowflakes” who
can’t take a joke.
20 years ago, attacks in Iceland were
common, and brutal. I knew Móði, who
ended up with a plate in his head after an
attack by a group. My friends Dísa, Örn, and
a others didn’t survive. When I read about
the attacks in Poland, the knot in my stom-
ach came back. I felt as though the world
was returning to where it was 20 years ago.
I have felt this way for a few years.
The human soul must be handled with
care.
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