Here are snapshots from The Reykjavik Pride Parade 2019. The icelandic name for the parade is Gleðigangan or The Parade of Joy and you can certainly see the joy in peoples faces.
You can see among the supporters the Mayor of Reykjavík and people from the City council, the Bishop of Iceland with people from the national church and people from all walks of life.
Reykjavík City is one of the biggest supporters of Reykjavik Pride and this is part of the Mayors message this year:
“This August, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Reykjavik Pride. Ever since the first Pride took place in 1999, the city has been brimming with colour and liveliness during this annual event. The general public participation in this festival is really what makes the Reykjavik Pride so unique – as thousands of people embrace this opportunity to show their support and solidarity to the LGBTQIA+ community by joining in the jubilation.
Reykjavik Pride has been one of the most popular city festivals in Reykjavík from the very beginning. I think it is safe to say that nowhere else in the world can we expect some one third of the population to gather in the city centre to take part in the Pride Parade – the highlight of the festivities. This reflects the powerful struggle that queer people in Iceland have pursued throughout the years. Yet, we know that the fight for equal rights is far from over and that we constantly have to be on guard to fight prejudice wherever and whenever it appears.
Ever since the City of Reykjavík established a special human rights manifesto in 2006, we have worked systematically to ensure that all individuals can flourish within our society. Still, we can never let go of the fight for equal rights, no matter how much has been achieved in recent years.
Behind every struggle there are individuals who have sacrificed their time and sometimes their lives to bring on necessary change within society. Reykjavik Pride was established by such pioneers some twenty years ago, and the event is still today, fully prepared and organized by volunteers. For that we are extremely grateful.”
For more information about the festival please visit the Reykjavik Pride website.
Photos: Páll Guðjónsson
