Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convener, Alex Greenwich, says Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard has let down the 60% of Australians who support same-sex marriage by opposing the reform. As part of AME´s campaign to change Gillard's mind, the group has written to the Icelandic Prime Minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, who recently married her same-sex partner, Jonina Leosdottir, asking the Icelandic PM to explain the importance of marriage equality to Ms Gillard. Alex Greenwich says it is "our hope is that this leader-to-leader contact, especially between two ground-breaking, centre-left Prime Ministers, will show Julia Gillard that marriage equality is fundamental to the lives of gay and lesbian people and to a just society." Read more ...

"Iceland deserves credit for eliminating barriers to same-sex marriage" says Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. On her visit to Iceland Ms. Pillay commended Iceland for the significant progress with the legislation "removing legal impediment to same sex marriages, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and freedom of expression". This was the first trip to Iceland by a UN human rights chief and during her visit Ms. Pillay met Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson who emphasized Iceland´s commitment to himan rights saying the "promotion andprotection of human rights is one of the cornerstones of the policy of the Government of Iceland. Read the full story on OHCHR website and UN News Centre. 

The Parliament in Iceland has voted unanimously to approve same-sex marriage, an important milestone for gay equality.  This means the wording of marriage legislation includes matrimony between "man and man, woman and woman" and upgrades same sex marriage to be fully equal with marriage. Read more ...

Iceland is more awake than ever and invites the world to get inpired by it. For adventure seeking LGBT tourists Iceland is definitely a place worth visiting and be inspired by. Despite being a small country the gay scene is vibrant, open and very friendly. A place where you can be yourself as Pierfrancesco Gennaro learned when living in Iceland and shares with the world. Read his story and other stories written by poeple who have been inspired by Iceland. Check out event calendar or browse through Gayice.is picture gallery. Are you soon to be inspired by Iceland?

It might come as a surprise for some that Iceland is rated the safest country in the worldgiven the fact that there is an ongoing eruption in the now world famous glacier Eyjafjallajökull. But, according to Tourism-Review.com Iceland is on top of the safest country list with very low crime rate and unarmed officers (and they are not that many in the first place).  Read more ...

May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia. The International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO) and Gays.com have teamed up to raise the awareness of homophobia and transphobia around the world and asks everyone to participate in the project by participating in kiss-ins  around the world. Reykjavik is no exception as there will be a Global Kiss-in Monday May 17th, 4 pm, in  Austuvöllur  (the square park in front of the Parliament). Bring someone to kiss and show your support to an important cause. 

This year for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, we want YOUR help in organising kiss-ins like this in major cities around the world between May 14-17. Gay, straight, black, white -- whatever you look like and whatever your political stripes are -- as long as you believe in love and equality for ALL people everywhere, we want you to join us in a kiss-in near where you are. The Great Global Kiss-in is an official project by the Committee for the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO) and Gays.com.

DJ Barney Philly will be performing at this year´s BEARS ON ICE 2010, September 9-12. Coming from Philadelphia DJ Barney Philly has made a name for himself performing around the states but his most noticeable events include NYC (Furball, Summer Furr, Dugout), San Francisco (Bearacudda), Charlotte (Club Cub Bear Run, Charlotte Eagle), Chicago (Hydrate), York PA (Club XS), Asbury Park NJ (Shep Pettibone's Paradise), Columbus OH (Bear Camp), Madison WI (Woof's).