Skylar Kergil.

Second class

Have you ever found yourself in the situation where other people, who don‘t know anything about you, are discussing whether or not you should be granted the same basic rights as anyone else?

If you have,  you probably belong to a minority in one way or another.

This whole concept is wrong, in so many ways. First off, why should anyone have to live with a stripped downed version of human rights? It automatically means that people are divided into different classes, depending on their individual worth as a human being.

"Sorry, I'm going to have to ask you to move. These seats are for first class passengers only."
“Sorry, I’m going to have to ask you to move. These seats are reserved for first class passengers only.”

This is not a new idea. All over the world, people have been demoted from respected human beings, to second (or lower) class citizens, based on their origins, believes and so on. And this has been happening for centuries. Probably all the way since the first pre-human spotted that the tribe in the next valley had different colored eyes.

So debating human rights for minorities is, in that sence, only a slippery slope away from ethnic cleansing. I do not choose these words lightly, nor do I assume that everyone taking part in such a debate has bad intentions.

Quite the opposite. I believe  most of them feel their opinions are basis for a successful, well structured society. It‘s just that there will never be a problem so small or so big that limitations to human rights will solve it.

Another problem with such a debate is that there are generally two opposing sides, and one has to be against. Even though they have no real stake, or even understanding of the matter at hand.

But hey, as long as their intentions are for the greater good, right?

Example #1:

Anti-abortion crusading Ohio Republican lawmaker Jim Buchy.
Anti-abortion crusading Ohio Republican lawmaker Jim Buchy.

Jim Buchy is an Ohio State representative who was advocating extreme anti-abortion legislation for his state. In an interview in 2012, for the Al Jazeera documentary The Abortion War, he was asked the most simple question by a reporter:

What do you think makes a woman want to have an abortion?

Buchy was speechless. This was a totally new idea to him. In a nutshell, his answer (after wrestling with his tounge for a while) was: „I don‘t know. I‘m not a woman. I‘ve never thought about it.“

See for yourself, by clicking here.

 

Transgender rights vs. Freedom of speech?

Last January (!), a law was passed in Iceland that protects transgender people against many kinds of discrimination and oppression.

Of the 63 members of parliament, 53 voted „yes“, 7 were absent and 3 were present but did not vote. Why? Because they felt the law violated freedom of speech.

They might have had a point, under different circumstances. Because when I say „a law was passed“, I should actually say: „Current laws were changed. In addition to it being illegal to mock, slander, belittle or threaten an individual og group of people with any means of expression, such as with images or symbols, because of nationality, skin color, race, religion or sexual orientation … it is now also illegal to do all of the above to an individual or group of people because of their gender identity.“

So yeah. Not exactly breaking new ground, but rather adding a much-needed criteria.

I do not assume the three MP‘s iSecond classn question (I‘ve worked with one of them in the past, and another is dating a friend of mine … welcome to Iceland) meant to object the idea of transgender rights. My understanding is they were trying to seize the moment to point out that they felt the maximum penalty for such a crime (2 years in prison) is so strong that it may undermine a basic human right – the freedom of speech.

The 2 year penalty was originally put in 1973, when Iceland ratified the UN‘s Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination from 1963.

In addition, the other Nordic countries (our friends, our kin, our role-models) have more or less similar penalties.

Why all these boring explanations? Because I strongly oppose to the idea that people with no personal stake can object to a vital human rights law amendment in such a way, in order to serve another cause. However good it may be.

But hey, as long as their intentions are for the greater good, right?

Example #2:

Irish drag queen and lgbt rights activist Panti Bliss.
Irish drag queen Panti Bliss. Photo by Conor Horgan.

On stage at Dublin‘s Abbey Theatre, Irish drag queen Panti Bliss (don‘t you just love drag-names?) gave one of the most powerful speeches I‘ve ever heard on the different forms of oppression, how non-oppressed (and oppressing) people struggle with understanding the concept of oppression, the idiocy of random people trying to debate the life and rights of minorities they have nothing to do with, how society can make you self-oppress, and finally – my favorite – how the concept of hate speech has been turned on it‘s head, so that Bliss herself has been accused of hate speech for complaining about homophobia.

„And for the last three weeks I have been denounced from the floor of parliament to newspaper columns to the seething morass of internet commentary for “hate speech” because I dared to use the word “homophobia”. And a jumped-up queer like me should know that the word “homophobia” is no longer available to gay people. Which is a spectacular and neat Orwellian trick because now it turns out that gay people are not the victims of homophobia – homophobes are,“ Bliss says in her excellent speech.

See for yourself, by clicking here.

The majority fears equality

I feel I must add, to all of this, that a lot of progress has been made in gaining basic human rights for queer people in Iceland. The milestone I relate the most to is when, in 2012, a law was passed that grants transpeople the right to medical care, and the children of trans-people the same legal stand in relations to their parent after their parent‘s treatment, as before.

There is still more to be done, though.

Even though no law prevents it, Icelandic officials will not allow you to leave the gender-segment of your passport blank. There are, however, laws that prevent you to choose a non-gender specific first name. Instead, „boys should be given men‘s names and girls should be given women‘s names“.

Both these issues torment transpeople in the early stages of their transition, because for two years, or more, they have to live under one name, but be recognized by „the system“ under another. How often do you use your credit-card, for example? How much trouble can you imagine it would create if it had a name that belongs to the opposite sex?

The one that really bothers me is when in 2011, the kind-of-legally-elected Constitutional Council handed over their proposal for a new constitution, their human rights-chapter was wanting in so many ways. For example, the council composed a list of reasons people could not use as basis for discrimination. Even though the list is somewhat long (15 items including age, sex, sexual orientation, race, opinions, language, religion and so on) there is no mention of gender identity.

Transpeople are far more likely to be victimized by hate crime than most or any other groups of people.
Transpeople are far more likely to be victimized by hate crime than most or any other groups of people.

You might not think this is a big issue, but since transpeople are far more likely to be victimized by hate crime than most or any other groups of people, it‘s kind of strange. Specially when you learn that gender identity was voted out of the list in a council „show of hands“ by one vote.

And even stranger when you learn the explanation the council gave the „lobbying“ group advocating for a change to get gender identity back in. „It hasn‘t got the same general awareness as homosexuality, so we didn‘t think it should be in the constitution now.“

I could write an even longer article about this council, and the proposal (they call it a bill) they handed over. But I won‘t.

So, I‘m thankful for every small progress but at the same time, I don‘t understand why all of these issues have to go around and around before they are solved. Why it‘s just not enough to see what it takes to give everyone the same basic rights, and just fix it.

We all know there are people who feel that giving other groups of people the same rights they have, makes their rights worth less. And not only that, it makes the other group „privileged“ beyond themselves. (No matter how I try, I can‘t get the math to work on that one.)

The problem with minorities is that they‘ll never get the majority vote. So if you apply the rules of democracy to deciding their rights, they‘ll never graduate from being second class.

And even though most people taking part in the decisions of minorities´ rights are well-meaning, the loud voices of those who fear equality are the ones making the debate necessary.

But hey, as long as their intentions are for the greater good, right?

Although … WHO‘S greater good?

 

Skylar Kergil.
Skylar Kergil.

Main Photo: Many teenagers who identify as transgender have appeared to be at higher risk for depression and suicide. But with support from family, friends and society more and more are becoming comfortable with who they are, like activist, artist, writer and musician Skylar Kergil who began documenting his F.T.M. (female to male) transition on YouTube in 2009. Photo by Julia Luckett.

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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