Once again Reykjavik Gay Pride weekend is over. This year´s pride was just as successful as the successful prides in the past if not more successful for the vibe and the message it brought. It was definitely more political in a way than I recall. Reykjavik´s mayor Mr. Jon Gnarr made a strong statement in the Saturday parade with his act when showing support to the Russian feminists Pussy Riot who have been behind bars for speaking up and speaking their mind in their home country.

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The annual Human Rights Prize, given to individuals and a group or an organization for their contribution to the humanitarian cause, where handed out last night at the Reykjavik Gay Pride Opening ceremony last night.  Anna Kristjánsdóttir (pictured above) was awarded for her long time contribution to the LGBT cause but Anna has been on the front line for a very long time fighting for the recognition of transgender people in Iceland and their basic human rights. Óttar Guðmundson is a medical doctor has been supporting transgenders in Iceland for a long time and paving the way for improved medical treatment and support in Iceland. Mbl TV is an online web tv has run a series of episodes with interviews with transgender individuals as well as coming out stories, raising the awareness on LGBT issues. 

On Wednesday August 8th four exhibitions open in the Town hall, Ráðhús Reykjavíkur. They all celebrate diversity and the importance of human rights. One of them will show photos from Reykjavik Gay Pride though the years from photographers  Geir Ragnarsson and Bára Kristinsdóttir. The first Reykjvavik Gay Pride was in 1999 when 1500 persons gathered at Ingólfstorg and then grew each year to become one of the three biggest annual events in Reykjavik in recent years. Read more ...

It is undoubtedly Iceland´s most entertaining competetion. The Icelandic Drag competition has for a few years now marked an early beginning of Reykjavik Gay Pride weekend. This year the event will take place in Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall, Reykjavik´s newes icon. The drag show and the competition has been an important part of the local gay scene where boys (drag queens) and girls (drag kings) dress up to celebrate the oldest form of theatre known in the world and put on a good show. This is a fun event to watch and definitely worth attending! The show takes about 2 hours and is full of fun and laughter that you don't want to miss. Ticket cost ISK 2.800, click here to buy online ticket for the show.

It´s the beginning of August and Reykjavik Gay Pride is just around the corner. We´re all getting pretty excited as Gay Pride is an exciting and fun event which it should be. This year Reykjavik Gay Pride welcomes it´s guests with variety of events including concerts, exhibitions, film documentaries and stand up with British comedienne Zoe Lyons which is on her first visit to Iceland. The Saturday Parade will as always mark the highlight of the festival with thousands of Icelanders and visitors from abroad watching the colorful gay pride parade march downtown and the outdoor pride concert at Arnarhóll outdoor stage.

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The Reykjavik Gay Pride Magazine and Program Guide 2012 is out and is available online. The 2012 Program Guide contains information about the coming up pride even,  performing artist in Icelandic as well as in English and some interesting articles about Iceland´s LGBT history.  Read more ...

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Iceland´s prime minister is number 21 on Guardian´s top 100 list of most influential LGBT people of the year. On the top 100 list Guardian is ranking influencing LGBT people from the world of entertainment, politics and business. To quote Guardian: Siguroardóttir is the world's first lesbian premier. She has two children from a previous marriage but is now married to her female partner. Her government banned strip clubs and she is quoted as saying: "Nordic countries are leading the way on women's equality, recognising women as equal citizens rather than than commodities for sale." Read more ...

A recent approval of a proposed law ensuring that transgender individuals are treated equally before law according to human rights and fundamental freedoms is tremendous step forward for transgender people in Iceland. The legal status of transgender people in Iceland has been very weak compared to the legal status of transgender people in other countries Iceland compares itself with. While progressive steps have been taken with legislative improvements for the gays and lesbians, such as 2010 approval of same sex marriage, the transgender community has been pretty much invisible and left with no specific legislation on the issue in Iceland. The proposed law, which  will formally be effective on Christopher Street Day, June 27th. 2012, is therefore a huge milestone for the LGBT community as a whole.  Read more ...