"We´re standing on crossroads and It´s time to look into our work, prioritize and determine future policy" says Anna Pála Sverrisdóttir, chairman of Samtökin '78 (The National Queer Organization of Iceland) but June 1st the organization calls for a national gathering of queer people to "discuss where we stand as an organization, our strategy and issues we need to address in the future".
Today is a national election day and Mrs. Johanna Sigurdardottir steps down as Iceland´s prime minister and the world´s first openly gay head of government after four years in office. No matter where you stand in politics, if you agree or disagree to the politics and vision Johanna stood for, we should be able to agree that an openly gay head of state has made a significance for the LGBT community and for the better.
The fact that she is a lesbian, has brought a lot of attention around the world which is important for gay people of all nationalities wherever they live. The absence of openly gay politicians is something we definitely need to address and change, our voice has to be heard on all levels if we are to make a difference for the better.
Amnesty Iceland has invited Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, an Ugandan LGBT activist, to Iceland. Kasha is here to participate in meetings and discussion panels about LGBT activism and her life as an activisit in Uganda which is one of the World´s most homophobic countries.
National elections for Parliament are coming up in about a week and according to recent polls a new government will replace the left wing government for four years lead by Mr.s Johanna Sigurdardottir, the world´s first gay prime minister. The National Queer Organization, Samtökin '78, invited political parties running for Parliament to share their thoughts, policies and ideas on LGBT issues at a very well sought meeting last week at the Queer Center. Prior to the meeting all parties had the opportunity to share their policies on LGBT related issues by answering a list of questions such as how they perceive current legislative and social status of LGBT people, if they are ready to support further research on lgbt issues, strengthen education and secure funding of the National Queer Organization which has suffered since the economy crashed in 2008.
The Prime Minister of Iceland, Mrs. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, and her wife, Jónína Leósdóttir, will be on an official visit to China on 15-18 April. Mrs. Sigurdardóttir captured the world´s attention after winning the 2009 elections in Iceland and becoming the world´s first openly gay prime minister. She was on Guardian´s top 10 list as the most influential LGBT people of the year in 2012 and her coming up visit with her wife to China is a milestone for LGBT in China and around the world.
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Reykjavík 29 Aug - 1 Sept, 2024
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