It gets better

He was born into a family of farmers, raised on the famous dairy farm Erpsstaðir, in region Dalir in West Iceland, along with his four siblings, including a twin brother. His idea of the simple life was quite simple: Find a girl, get married and become an animator. (The cows didn’t really interest him.) But then things took a turn for 16-year-old Guðmundur Kári Þorgrímsson who became an instant Internet sensation when he posted his coming out video.

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Guðmundur Kári made headlines in Iceland when he posted a coming out video, which has gotten over 90.000 views since last September.

“I just wanted to make a video to show people that this was for real. And to explain better. If I had just posted some text on Facebook people wouldn’t necessarily read it the right way. I had to tell people for them to know that this was coming from the heart,” Guðmundur frankly says, when asked what made him decide to come out in a YouYube video.

“I didn’t get any help making the video,” he adds. “I did it on my own, but my friends encouraged me. I had already told some of them and at that point I just wanted everyone to know. So they told me to go for it.”

When did you know you were gay?

“I kind of always knew. But you know, you were just supposed to be a boy and supposed to like girls. I just tried to follow.”

Do you think it’s harder coming to terms with being bi or gay if you’re raised on a farm, rather than in the city?

“I don’t know. Wow, I really don’t know.”

“I was afraid of the future – the sequel!”

What was the reaction after you posted the video?

“Really great. Everyone has been super supportive and I haven’t experienced any negative response.”

You just recently started a new school when you posted the video, wasn’t that difficult? Or are you a legend there now?

Guðmundur with his friends at Akureyri Comprehensive College (i. Verkmenntaskólinn á Akureyri), where he is focusing on sports science. “I’m really into sports and physical training and curious about the human body, so I figured out that I might like sports science. And I was right, it’s great,” he says and adds that sports is basically his favourite subject. However he can’t stand X menningarlæsi. “It’s just not working out. Maybe it would be more fun if the teachers tried a new approach, if we would somehow do things differently.”
Guðmundur with his friends at Akureyri Comprehensive College (i. Verkmenntaskólinn á Akureyri), where he is focusing on sports science. “I’m really into sports and physical training and curious about the human body, so I figured out that I might like sports science. And I was right, it’s great,” he says and adds that sports is basically his favourite subject. However he can’t stand cultural literacy. “Sorry, it’s just not working out. Maybe it would be more fun if the teachers tried a new approach, if we would somehow do things differently.”

(Laughs) “No, I can’t say I’m a legend … But I guess most people know who I am. But I’m not like super popular, just known.”

Do you have a boyfriend yet?

“Noooo… But I’m talking to this one guy, that happened after the video.”

What would you like to say to kids who are wondering how to come out?

“I just want to say: When you’re ready, go for it.”

How did you know you were ready?

“I was just content with myself. I just knew who I was.”

Guðmundur says that when he and his twin brother Einar Björn (on the left) were younger their sisters loved dressing them up. The picture was taken on one such occasion when the twins were about five years old. Einar Björn is currently focusing on natural science at school, but intends to change course and focus on social studies next semester.
Guðmundur says that when he and his twin brother Einar Björn (on the left) were younger their sisters loved dressing them up. The picture was taken on one such occasion when the twins were about five years old. Einar Björn is currently focusing on natural science at school, but intends to change course and focus on social studies next semester.

Was there a time you felt uneasy with yourself?

“Yes. There was a long period when I didn’t want this. But now I’m loving it!” (Laughs)

What changed?

“I don’t know, just the attitude. My attitude. The society just tells you that if you’re a boy you should be into girls. That’s how you’re raised. But still my parents are very open-minded and always have been.”

So what were you afraid of if it wasn’t your parents?

“I don’t know. Life, I guess. How life would turn out to be. I was afraid of the future – the sequel.”

How does your twin brother feel about this?

(Sighs) “Oh, I don’t know. I told him, I just said: “Hey I have to tell you something,” and then I told him and he just looked at me and went like: “Yeah, okay, anything else?” He didn’t think it was remarkable at all. Then he just continued with his FIFA-game.” (Laughs.) “We’re very similar appearance-wise but definitely not character-wise.”

Maybe he knew all along?

“I guess so.”

Have people in similar circumstances approached you after you posted the video?

“Yes, as a matter of fact, a few people have come to me for advice. All kids my age that I didn’t know beforehand. They added me on Snapchat and wanted to talk. We talked and now they’ve all come out as well!”

That’s impressive. Good for you and good for them. Is this something you would like to do? Give advice and pep-talk to people facing this situation?

“I’ve been thinking about it. I would really like to visit schools and give talks. I think that would be fun. Just to tell my story and explain how this all went and that it’s OK to be gay.”

“There was a long period when I didn’t want this. But now I’m loving it!”

Photo: “I dig gymnastics, running, reading, taking pictures, singing and acting. I’m going to be an actor when I get older,” says Guðmundur, when asked about his hobbies, and adds that he hates having nothing to do. Photo taken at the dorm of Akureyri Comprehensive College which Guðmundur says he chose because he wanted to try out something totally different.

Main photo: Guðmundur (in the middle) with his family, father Þorgrímur, mother Helga,  sisters Gunnlaug (21), Lóa (22), Tania (11) and brother Einar, alongside family dog Bella at farm Erpsstaðir. Photo by Steina Matt.

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

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

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

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      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.

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        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
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        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
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        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.

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        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.

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