Reykjavík Grapevine - Aug 2023, Page 36

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PERMANENT EXHIBITION
AT HOME IN
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THE PLATFORM
HABITATIONS
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PRESENCE NEW SWEATERS
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WORDS Jóhannes Bjarkason
IMAGE Art Bicnick
Headquartered in the office
and cultural centre at Suðurgata
3, Samtökin ‘78 operates an active
network of social clubs and services
aimed towards LGBTQ+ people. As
the national queer organisation of
Iceland, its operations span multiple
sectors, from advocacy and edu-
cation to consultation and social
services.
SAMTÖKIN’S SOCIAL FACET
“The social services of Samtökin ‘78
include many things,” says board
member Þórhildur Elínardóttir Mag-
núsdóttir. “The overarching goal is
to connect queer people and pro-
vide them with a place to meet,” she
explains.
The organisation hosts all manner of
events, such as open nights and cafe
evenings for queer people. “We’ve
hosted events for queer folks of
foreign background, seminars, and
events like book clubs and knitting
meet-ups,” Þórhildur says.
As Samtökin’s operations rest on four
main pillars, there is constant work
to be done. “We are always busy,”
Þórhildur admits. “Our consulta-
tion team meets a huge number of
people every year, and our educa-
tion team travels all over the country
providing information about queer
topics,” says Þórhildur. According
to the organisation, roughly 13.000
people received education on queer
matters in 2022. “And then there’s
constant activism, which has been
put to the test recently, as happens
when there’s a backlash against the
queer community,” adds Þórhildur,
referencing the organisation’s finding
of growing opposition towards queer
communities in Iceland.
With rising levels of stigma around
LGBTQ+ people, how does that
translate into Samtökin’s social ser-
vices? “We mostly perceive it in the
conversations between people. Our
people feel the societal discourse on
social media or in the news. Perhaps
they’ve experienced some prov-
ocation themselves, but we stand
together,” Þórhildur confesses.
SERVING THE CAPITAL’S
QUEER YOUTH
Among Samtökin’s most popular
services are its queer youth clubs.
Like municipal youth clubs operated
elsewhere in Iceland, Samtökin ‘78
operates clubs open to teenagers
and adolescents.
“Our youth program is always a
bomb. The club for 13 to 17 year-olds,
which we manage in collaboration
with Tjörnin youth centre, is our most
popular activity,” Þórhildur says.
Due to its immense popularity, the
club was split in two: one for 13 to 15
year-olds; the other one for 16- and
17-year-olds. There’s also Hinung, a
club for 18 to 25 year-olds.
The club nights are filled with teen-
agers, who come out in droves.
Although only receiving municipal
support from Reykjavík, teenagers
from all over the southwest corner
of Iceland flock to meet their peers.
“It’s just getting bigger. Every year, we
think that it can’t get more popular
and then the kids prove us wrong.”
Previously, it wasn’t uncommon that
people came out in their twenties,
but Þórhildur estimates that people
are expressing their identities at a
younger age.
Samtökin’s youth clubs aren’t the
only place for LGBTQ+ teenagers
to meet, as multiple youth centres
around the capital region operate
similar clubs for queer teens. There’s
even one in Akureyri, which opened
in 2019.
“It’s essential for young people to
find their community and meet oth-
ers in a similar situation as them-
selves. In these spaces, they can
vent and relate to similar experienc-
es. They’re allowed to be exactly who
they are, with the support of adults,”
says Þórhildur and explains that the
organisation emphasises that the
volunteers and employees of the
clubs be queer themselves. “Most
kids find something they can’t find
in their local youth club,” she con-
cludes.
You can support Samtökin ‘78 by be-
coming a Rainbow Friend – a monthly
donation scheme. Their office on
Suðurgata 3 is open for drop-in en-
quiries Mondays through Thursdays,
from 13:00 to 16:00.
The Neighbourhood Watch Connecting Queer People
The growing popularity of Samtökin ‘78’s youth clubs
And then there’s constant ac-
tivism, which has been put
to the test recently, as hap-
pens when there’s a backlash
against the queer community.