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 ...

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 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. 

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?