For 20 years the HIV Organization of Iceland has been supporting people diagnosed with HIV. This has been the main goal since the foundation of the organization December 5th 1988 as well as be on the front line in educating the general public and raise the awareness on HIV in general.

We´re happy to announce the dates for the BEARS ON ICE 2009 event which is to be held in Reykjavik, Iceland September, 10-13th, 2009. For the fifth time bears and friends will take over the local gay scene and have some fun. The 2008 event was the biggest so far but the event has been growing bigger every year since first held 2005. 

The Iceland Drag Competition has made a name for itself since first held 1997. An exhibition at the Queer Center on Laugavegur 3 (city center) offers a glimpse back in time at the event which has become more popular every year. The exhibition displays pictures from past events, newsclips and a video presentation which includes golden moments from previous events. Free admission.

The Transgender day of Rememberance is held in November every year to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. November 20th Sass Rogando Sasot from the Philippines will do a presentation/dialogue  tenatively named: The philippinese LGBT community - experience and opinions. The event will take place in the Queer Center on Laugavegur 3, 4th floor starting at 8 pm.

Club MSC ICELAND has reopened on it´s new location at Laugavegur 28. MSC ICELAND has been the heart of the leather scene in Iceland but it has also attracted men of all types who simply like the company of like minded guys and relaxed atmosphere. 

Last few weeks have not made any sense at all for Icelanders with the economy going into a tailspinning never seen before. The Icelandic krona has fallen dramatically and the local stock market has fallen 90 percent after Iceland´s largest banks were nationalized.  But with every struggle comes an opportunity. Iceland is becoming a cheap destination with growing number of tourists visiting last month compared to last year.

The Icelandic documentarian Olaf de Fleur Johannesson has certainly made a name for himself. His most recent film, The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela has receieved a well earned attention at film festivals around the world. The film tells the story of the ladyboy Raquela from the Philippines who dreams of escaping the streets of Cebu City for a fairy tale life in Paris. Tired of working the streets, she turns to internet porn, where she seems to hit the goldmine – a chance to travel to Iceland, and an offer of a visa from Michael, the website’s New York based owner.

The Queer Center on Laugavegur 3 (4th floor)  is now open 3 nights a week. Cafe/Bar and library is open Monday nights and Thursday nights from 8 to 11.00. On Saturdays Cafe/Bar and library is open from 1 pm to 5 pm and Cafe/Bar is open Saturday nights from 8 pm to midnight. Office is open weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm

The National Queer Organization, Samtökin ‘78, is an interest and an activist group for homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals in Iceland. The organisation’s goal is for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual persons to be visible and recognised and enjoy their rights to the fullest in Icelandic society.