Iceland comes 8th on the 2014 ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map with the score of 64%. The ILGA map reflects the National legal and policy human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and interest (LGBTI) people in Europe. UK is on top of the list scoring 82%, Belgium comes second with 78% and Spain is in third place with 73% score. Of the Scandinavian countries Norway is number 5 on the list and Sweden comes number seven.

Iceland´s drawback on the ILGA are on numerous topics and issues, mostly related to the recognition and protection of individuals based on gender identity, automatic co-parent recognition and lack of policy tackling hate speech.

The 2015 Ru Paul´s Condragulations Tour did a stop-over in Reykjavik April 17th (2015) with the one and only Michelle Visage hosting a fantastic show where some of the best names in drag put on a memorable show for the Icelandic audience. Adore Delano, Alaska 5000, Ivy Winters, Jinkx Monsoon, Pandora Boxx and Sharon Needles made the crowd went wild with their energetic and entertaining two hour performance. Check out Gayice.is pictures from the Reykjavik Condragulations tour and Drag Gazette´s YouTube video from their show in Reykjavik.

Samtökin 78, The National Queer Organization, has selected new board of directors. Hilmar Magnusson will take the Chair of Samtökin '78 board of directors serving his second term on the Organization´s front line. 5 new members will join the board for the next term of the 7 selected each year. According to Hilmar, newly elected Chair of Samtökin '78, some of the most important challenges ahead comes from within the organization such as getting the Community Center back on track, fund proper staffing and involving social groups more actively within the Organization. "Last year Samtökin sold their old headquarters on Laugavegur and getting the new facility up and running has been hectic and time consuming. Hopefully we´ll see end of that early spring" says Hilmar.

Once again BEARS ON ICE will throw its celebration weekend for bears and friends in September, this time for the 11th year. Special guest for this year´s BEARS ON ICE is no other than the Chicago born, Brooklyn-based queer rapper Big Dipper. Known for his crazy antics, exciting live shows, and infectious music make him the most one of the most exciting independent queer performer and rap act to watch. DETAILS magazine named him one of Hop's Queer Pioneers in 2012 and he has been profiled by VICE, Red Eye Chicago, the Huffington Post, Out.com, Chicago Reader and countless other blogs and online publications. And recently he made it to the top list of most eligible gay bachelors by OUT Magazine.

Start your engines, The Queens of RuPaul's Drag Race are coming to town in the biggest RPDR Battle of the Seasons tour ever! Adore Delano, Alaska 5000, Ivy Winters, Jinkx Monsoon, Pandora Boxx & Sharon Needles are to perform in Reykjavik, April 17th and put on an unforgettable show for their fans, where anything can happen!  After six seasons and the seventh premiering now in March former contestents will perform in Gamla Bíó (city center) on the 17th of April. The biggest Ru Paul's Drag Race Battle Of The Seasons Tour will hit 35 cities in the 2015 Condragulations Tour, a showgirl showdown hosted by the one and only Michelle Visage.

Get ready for the annual Pink Masquerade Party coming up, a part of the International Rainbow Reykjavik Winter Pride Festival. Pink Party will take place on January 31st in Iðnó (city center) with the the one and only Paul Oscar hosting, dj-ing and performing, making sure everyone will have a great time. House opens 10.30 pm, Ticket presale Price is ISK 2000, ISK 1500 for members of Samtökin '78. Min age is 22 years. Prize for best mask/costume. Tickets available online. 

Rainbow Reykjavik LGBT winter festival is definitely worth checking out if you´re on your way to Iceland or in search of a good reason to come visit. The festival will kick off January 290th and offers good mixture of events and activities for four days including sight seeing tours and late night parties. Among event highlights is a trip to the geothermal Blue lagoon, Northern Lights hunt (if weather allowes), Golden Circle sight seeing tour and the ever popular Pink Party. 

Rainbow Reykjavik is a great addition for LGBT travellers who wants to come visit Iceland, experience something new and have some fun. Visit Rainbow Reykjavik for more information about the event, program and tickets. 

If you´re visiting Reykjavik over Christmas be prepared as many restaurants and shops close down from 24th to 26th of December as well as January 1st. So, stacking up with some food may be a good idea if you´re in town those days and you dont have anything booked. Visit Reykjavik website has collected a very useful list of restaurant´s opening hours as well as opening hours for other services, check it out below, just to be on the safe side.

Follow this link for complete list of opening hours during Christmas 2014