Iceland review - 2013, Page 50

48 ICELAND REVIEW
I participated in the Reykjavík Pride parade for the
first time this year—until now I’ve always worked
behind the scenes—and was deeply touched by all the
people lining the street and cheering us on. In all the photos
I’m smiling from ear to ear,” says chair of Samtökin 78 – The
National Queer Association Anna Pála Sverrisdóttir, a lawyer
by profession. “It’s such a privilege. I tried to imagine how I
would feel being a lesbian in Uganda—where we have a sister
association—or in Russia. It’s sad to think that in Moscow
the parade ended with police violence but at home the police
raised rainbow flags and participated in the parade.”
LGBT uTOPIA?
To outsiders, Iceland may seem like an LGBT paradise, espe-
cially with former Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir—in
office from 2009 to 2013—being the world’s first openly gay
head of state. “We should be proud but also conscious that it’s
not a utopia. When Samtökin 78 was founded in 1978—we
celebrate our 35th anniversary this year—the situation was far
from good. People were fleeing to Copenhagen. Progress has
been faster here than in many other places. We have achieved
some great victories, like one marital law for all, improving
rights for transgender people and legalizing adoption for same-
sex couples.” However, Anna Pála stresses that the legislation
isn’t perfect and that there’s still room for improvement.
“Visibility is vital. Currently, there aren’t any openly gay
members of parliament. It’s important to have role models.
LGBT teenagers don’t feel as happy as their peers. Education
is key and information on LGBT is now part of the main cur-
riculum on paper but great improvements will have to be made.
We have to make sure to have LGBT employees in every pro-
fession, tend to older LGBT people and fight prejudice in nurs-
ing homes. We fight with love and joy.” She also highlights the
importance of supporting sister associations in other countries.
“We have an obligation to support LGBT people all around the
world. Martin Luther King said: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat
to justice everywhere.’ That should be our guiding light.”
rAIN AND SHINE
Held since 2000, with celebrations peaking in the second
weekend of August, the program of Reykjavík Pride now
stretches over a number of days. Considered a family festival, the
program attracts all kinds of people. This year, 60,000 people—
almost 20 percent of the Icelandic population—observed the
39 floats of gleðigangan, the ‘joy parade’ as it’s called in Icelandic,
pass through central Reykjavík.
The joy isn’t shared by everyone, though. A few but vocal
individuals criticized this year’s parade in the media, expressing
their disapproval of Mayor of Reykjavík Jón Gnarr—who, since
taking office in 2010 has appeared in the parade in drag—wear-
ing the Icelandic national women’s costume, maintaining that
the parade was pornographic and the celebrations not suitable
for children.
“That’s not how it was. It’s a family festival. If people want
to criticize it they must at least be present,” stresses Anna Pála.
“LGBT activism has to a certain extent been about provoking
people’s world image, for example by showing two men kissing
publicly. If people don’t have anything against a couple of the
opposite sex kissing in public they shouldn’t mind that either.
We welcome lively debates and exchange of opinions but they
have to be expressed responsibly.
“I was disappointed in the media. Some of them gave too
much space to negative discussions and hate speech when there
were many other angles they could have covered, for example
that the parade was unusually political this year. It’s considered
natural to broadcast prejudiced opinions about LGBT people
but if you exchange the word ‘gay’ with ‘black’ that’s a different
matter.”
Chair of Samtökin 78 – The National Queer Association Anna Pála Sverrisdóttir
discusses Reykjavík Pride, whether Iceland is an LGBT paradise
and what the association is fighting for.
sPreading
the Joy
BY eygLó svaLa aRnaRsdóttiR
PHOTOS BY PÁLL stefÁnsson
BY eygLó svaLa aRnaRsdóttiR
PHOTOS BY PÁLL stefÁnsson