Nothing to fight for

Have we done it? Can we pack up and go home? Are we … equal?

Psychiatrist Óttar Guðmundsson probably didn‘t mean to offend anyone* when he wrote a column (published yesterday) about how queer people are facing a crisis because they have nothing left to fight for.

But he did.

In fact, his column sparked a wave of shocked response from people who do not agree when he wrote: „But the times changed in a flash. During the 21st century, the struggle [for the right to a normal life] succeeded in most ways. Persecutions were no more and gays became a natural part of society. […] Some even lost their martyrdom associated with being a persecuted minority. Normal life turned out to be quite boring, in the end.“

Queer martyrdom.
As it turns out queer people find “normal life” quite boring and are now trying to cling on to their martyrdom, according to the good doctor.

When reading his column it‘s worth noting that dr. Guðmundsson isn‘t just any ol‘guy. Apart from his many other accomplishments, he has decades of experience working with transgender people in Iceland, for example.

Within their circles, he has sometimes been called „the gatekeeper“. He has been the man who says yes or no to transgender people seeking treatment. The only person in the whole country who could make the decision. And although his decisions have hopefully been based on the best knowledge he has had*, each time, they have often meant broken dreams – broken lives – for his „patients“.

But more importantly in this context, and I guess some people might miss my point and only see this as a cliché*, he is a straight, middle-aged, able-bodied, white cis-male. A breed that (and I‘m in no way trying to belittle dr. Guðmundsson) is terribly ill-equipped to discuss queer rights, privilege or prejudice.

You see, it‘s not easy to put yourself in the shoes of a person you have very little in common with. How would you? You can‘t tell an orange you know how it feels, because you once had a spray-tan.

“…even though the good doctor may be trying to offer a new perspective to the history of queer rights*, in reality he‘s just adding to the ever flowing river of sometimes-well-meaning, most-of-the-time-missing-the-point speeches…”

So even though the good doctor may be trying to offer a new perspective to the history of queer rights*, in reality he‘s just adding to the ever flowing river of sometimes-well-meaning, most-of-the-time-missing-the-point speeches, blogs and comments from people who perhaps should be asking the experts, rather than playing them.

Let‘s imagine the struggle of minorities for equal rights as people trying to scale a wall of segregation, and that with every battle won a few stones are removed from the top of the wall.

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The ban on gay men donating blood is one of the “stones” that are still very much in place in Iceland.

For the people standing at the top of the social ladder, it doesn‘t take long before the wall seems quite smaller and more manageable from up there. „Heck! It seems to have pretty much disappeared!“ they may say. „Looks like them folks are going to be cursed with our boring, everyday life from now,“ they may even say, and be terribly pleased with the whole thing*.

But for those living on ground level, where the struggle takes place, it doesn‘t matter if the height of the wall is six meters or sixty meters, it is just as impossible to scale. And even when the height is down to one and a half meter, and the minority in question can manage to get across with great efforts, it is still a struggle. And the struggle won‘t be over until the very last stone of the wall has been removed and thrown off the cliff of human rights victories, into the deep pits of embarrassing history.

Stones that are very much in place in 2015‘s Iceland, like:

• Passports with only two gender options.
• A ban against gay men donating blood.
• Different rules for lesbian couples when it comes to assisted fertilization.
• Bullying and violence against queers at schools, work and public places.
• Medicalization of attributes associated with queer people.
• Hate speech being promoted under the cover of freedom speech.
Having to live under two different names for a year or two at the beginning of gender transitioning.
• Priests having the right to deny some couples their services, despite being public servants.
• Doctors performing unnecessary operations on intersex infant‘s genitalia.
• Being denied work or housing because of how you identify yourself.
• Having to adopt your spouse‘s children to be considered their parent.
• A committee deciding if you‘re fit for being the gender you identify as.
• Not being binary, and therefore not having your rights protected by law or the constitution.

Unfortunately (in a way), to those who have never faced such a wall, a meter and a half is the same as no wall at all. And this gives them next to no understanding of what it‘s like.

And as the gender-neutral marriage law is only five-year old and law on transgender rights only three-year old, what rights exist today can‘t really be seen as to have come overnight, can they?

Well, compared to our Earth‘s history, the whole of human evolution has merely taken the blink of an eye … so maybe I‘m not looking at this in the right context?

Going from being imprisoned to being allowed to marry in less than a hundred years, that‘s pretty fast, right? Even if you still can‘t guarantee a priest would do it?

__

 

*I’m not pretending to know.

Main photo: Gatekeepers and guards come in many guises. As can be seen from this photo depicting workers starting on the Berlin Wall in August 1961. A soldier stands guard and makes sure the public doesn’t interfere.

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.

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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.

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