Reykjavík Grapevine - júl. 2020, Blaðsíða 2

First 15: Pride: The Proudest Day Of The Year10: Stop Saying Skonsur Are Just American Pancakes Already 16: Skoffín Will Charm Your Socks Off24: ...And So Will Dymbrá26: Female Heroes Of Folk Tales In Art
Pride Month may be in June for some
parts of the world, but in Iceland—as
in much of Scandinavia—it’s in August.
Being Americans by birth, and both
being queer living in Iceland, this
month carries special meaning for us,
especially as we look westward to our
birth country with despair and anxiety.
Andie’s trans
agenda
In the United States, the Trump admin-
istration is currently doing seemingly
everything it can to erase trans people
and further marginalise them. The
murder of trans people, in particular
Black trans women, continues in the
US seemingly unabated. Meanwhile,
in the UK, author J.K. Rowling drops
the mask, “coming out” as a full-blown
transphobe and emboldening bigots, as
she uses her massive platform to legiti-
mise hate.
It is for this reason that some of us
trans people who move to Iceland, can
feel a sense of survivor’s guilt, living in
a country that is comparatively tolerant
and progressive. So this Pride, we will
not only fight for further progress here
at home, but better days for our trans
siblings in the US.
Hannah’s
radical manifesto
It’s a bizarre experience to watch your
homeland burn—and quite literally
at that—while you sit pretty, outside,
mask-less, in a country with a compar-
atively supreme standard of living.
In truth, these past few months have
presented both the best and worst of
humanity. On one hand, we saw the
largest worldwide protest of all time
demanding rights and respect for Black
people. On the other hand, regres-
sive extremists have only grown more
extreme and now appear to feel no
shame about presenting their harmful
views publicly.
In Iceland, I believe the most targeted
group of hatred and bigotry are immi-
grants, particularly those of colour.
This Pride, I hope queer Icelanders do
their best to make queer immigrants
feel welcome in the wider LGBTQ+
community. I’m tired of seeing those
from far away countries who moved
here for a better life be left out of not
only politics, cultural life and media
representation, but also the marginal-
ised groups you’d expect would support
them. We need to do better.
But I believe in the resilience and
love of the queer community and I’m
optimistic about the future. But if not,
isn’t it exciting to watch the end of
mankind?
With love,
Andie Sophia Fontaine & Hannah
Jane Cohen
Goddesses & editors at the Reykjavík
Grapevine
Queering
The Chaos!
Elín Elísabet is an illus-
trator and cartoonist
born and raised in
Borgarnes. At the
tender age of 15, Elín
moved to Reykjavík
and hasn’t looked
back, except for the
annual springtime
impulse to move
someplace quiet
and keep chickens.
Elín likes folk music,
stationery, seal vid-
eos, the country of
Ireland, and eggs.
Hannah Jane Cohen is
based out of Iceland
by way of New York.
She's known for her
love of Willa Ford,
David Foster Wallace,
and other such
"intellectuals." Her
visionary work is
known for expand-
ing the definitions of
emotion, introspec-
tion, and above all
else, taste. Hannah is
also the current Drag
King of Iceland, Hans.
Catherine Magnúsdóttir
studies social sci-
ences and came to
the Grapevine for the
internship her stud-
ies mandate. And for
fun of course. When
she’s not reconnect-
ing with her Icelandic
roots, she’s either
watching video es-
says or attempting to
finally come up with
a good story idea
that she can actually
finish writing.
Nico Borbely is
an American-
Italian language and
geography nerd
from Michigan and
Viadana, Lombardy
with stints in several
other countries. He
can usually be found
brewing espresso,
hoarding books,
singing along to
multilingual Disney
videos, or cooking
experimental noodle
dishes.
Sveinbjörn Pálsson
is our Art Director.
He's responsible for
the design of the
magazine and the
cover photography.
When he's not work-
ing here, he DJs as
Terrordisco, hosts
the Funk"átturinn
radio show, or sits at
a table in a Laugarda-
lur café, drinking
copious amounts of
co#ee and thinking
about fonts.
Samuel O'Donnell
Sam is an English
major from The
United States. He
has his Bachelor’s
Degree, and keeps
telling himself that
this is the year he
will begin pursuing
his Master’s. In his
spare time, he enjoys
playing video games,
writing short horror
stories, listening to
all kinds of metal,
and reading.
Andie Sophia Fontaine
has lived in Iceland
since 1999 and has
been reporting since
2003. They were the
first foreign-born
member of the
Icelandic Parliament,
an experience they
recommend for
anyone who wants
to experience a
workplace where
colleagues work tire-
lessly to undermine
each other.
Poppy Askham is a
languages student,
fledgling writer, and
lover of flared jeans
who has fled to Ice-
land in a desperate
bid to escape Boris’
Brexit Britain whilst
she still can. Looking
for a new adventure,
she’s swapped her
hometown Bath
with its crowds of
tourists and famous
hot springs for…
Reykjavik.
Valur Grettisson is
an award-winning
journalist, author
and playwright. He
has been writing for
Icelandic media since
2005. He was also a
theatre critic and
one of the hosts of
the cultural program,
'Djöflaeyjan' at RÚV.
Valur is not to be
confused with the
dreadful football club
that bears the same
name.
COVER PHOTO:
Art Bicnick
EDITORIAL
35: Erotica Queen
Comes Clean
33: Embla Is The Fanciest
38: Foreign Food Shops
Broaden Horizons
More info and tickets
lavacentre.is
Open every day
9:00 - 19:00
Volcano &
Earthquake
Exhibition
LAVA Centre is an awarded, interactive exhibition
on Icelandic volcanoes and earthquakes. Learn
about the most active Icelandic volcanoes and
see all the latest eruptions in 4K. Lava Centre is
a mandatory stop on your Golden Circle or South
Coast adventure.
Located in Hvolsvöllur
80 min drive from Reykjavík
Photo: Eyjafjallajökull Eruption 2010