Rainbow Reykjavik can be labeled as Reykjavik´s LGBTQI+ Winter Pride Festival welcoming guests from all over the world to have fun in Reykjavik for a few days. The program offers a great mixture of nature, activities, culture, cuisine, music & nightlife & is an excellent excuse for a mid-winter visit to the world´s northernmost capital, Reykjavik.

Iceland needs more drag and we´re getting more drag with a little bit of support from Australia. A group of Icelandic performers are claiming the stage this Friday at Gaukurinn and putting on a show to lit up Iceland´s lack of daylight with Australian standup comedian Jonathan Duffy hosting the night. “I think audiences can expect to have an amazing night with a huge variety of performers. It's so exciting to have a night like this here in Reykjavík and I know punters will leave smiling and maybe even wake up the next morning with a sore head” says Jonathan Duffy host of the night.

BEARS ON ICE is a not-for-profit event, organized by volunteers to spice up the local gay scene and introduce gay-friendly Iceland to our guests. With no budget for promotion the event has grown year by year by word of mouth and good reputation. From the very beginning in 2005 supporting the local LGBT community has always been a mission. This year´s event was the biggest in its history enabling the team to donate ISK 400.000 (around $3200) to the National HIV Organization of Iceland, HIV-Ísland.

The longest running children's TV show in Iceland, "Stundin okkar" which is run on National State Television (RUV) aired a frank and open conversation about sexuality, more specificly, about the fact that some people are gay and not everyone is straight.  Gay Pop icon Paul Oscar (Páll Óskar) was invited to the show to perform and part of the show involved an open conversation between him and the host about sexuality where Paul Oscar told the host that he doesn´t get chrushes on girls and further explaining the fact that some boys like boys and some girls like girls.

Samtökin '78, Iceland´s National Queer Organization, has opened their new community center on Suðurgata 3 in Reykjavik´s city center. "This is a new beginning" says Auður Magndís Auðardóttir general manager. "It has taken us a while to get our new home in order but we´re very happy it´s all done and now we´re able to get back on track says Auður Magndís. "We´re still to find our strengths again after being homeless for a while but we´ve already scheduled regular events at the new community center including Open house every Thursday night from 20-23 (everyone welcomed) and Youth group meetings every sunday at 19:30 for kids aged 14-20 years old.

The recent story of a US clerk Kim Davis refusing to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples rightfully made a lot of fuzz around the globe and was seen as test to a US Supreme Court ruling that has given homosexuals the right to marry in the USA. In 2010 the Icelandic Parliament approved unanimously marriage legislation to include matrimony between same sex couples (man and man, woman and woman), upgrading same sex marriage to be fully equal with marriage.

BEARS ON ICE, Iceland´s annual bear event, is just around the corner, but the festival kicks off September 3rd with a Welcome Party at Iðusalir in Reykjavik´s city Center. Over 150 bears and friends from all over the world are coming for the event in September to enjoy what Iceland has to offer including sight seeing tours, visit to the world famous Blue lagoon and some partying as well.  

Reykjavik Pride  Opening Ceremony took place last night at Harpa (August 6th, 2015) with local and international artists performing. For over a decade, the Reykjavík Pride Opening Ceremony has been one of the festival’s most popular events showcasing the talents of a variety of artists, but also a yearly gathering of the extended queer family in Iceland. Here are a few photos from Reykjavik Gay Pride Opening Ceremony (pictures by Pall Gudjonsson).