I’m closer to a lesbian than a gay man

“There’s a lot of different kinds of comedy. There’s comedians who do one liners, puns, props and lots of other types. I’m a story-teller. I like my audience to feel like they’re sitting in my apartment after we’ve all been out. I like them to feel like it’s just a small group and we’re sharing funny stories.

I find that when I share intimate things people tend to warm to me a bit more. It’s like a technique to gain trust. Plus most of my comedy is me making fun of myself so being honest is sort of all I can do,” says Australian born comedian Jonathan Duffy, also referred to as Jono Duffy.

Jono is one of the many artists that will perform during this year’s Reykjavík Pride. One of Jono’s many contributions is the stand up show Australiana which he will perform in Iðnó on Friday the 5th of August. This is far from being Jono’s first stand up show but will the audience experience something different this time?

Australian comedian Jonathan Duffy – Jono – is the talk of the town. He has only lived in Reykjavík for a few months, but has already made his presence felt. He does stand-ups every week and last Saturday a music video he made for pop idol Páll Óskar was launched.
Australian comedian Jonathan Duffy – Jono – has only lived in Reykjavík for a short while, but has already made his presence felt. He does stand-ups every week and has collaborated with several artists, such as Hugleikur Dagsson, Páll Óskar, Hera Björk and Greta Salóme, on various projects.

“It is quite different from what people have seen of me here in Iceland. In Australia I wasn’t just a comedian I was also a cabaret performer, which for those who are unfamiliar basically means I would add musical elements to my shows. For some reason people in Iceland always think cabaret is burlesque. In this show, Australiana, I will be telling stories about what it was like growing up in Australia, what I miss and ultimately why I left.

People who have only seen the comedian side of me will definitely be treated to something new because the show will have a range of emotions, not just comedy. The entire show is pieced together through songs I have selected by Australian artists that form a timeline of events for me. These songs have been remixed by Dusk so it should add yet another element of something different.”

It’s been a while since Jono left Australia but he moved to Iceland about a year ago after travelling a bit around Europe. What was it like growing up gay in Australia?
“My little brother is gay and I think we both had different experiences. For me, growing up gay was really tough. Australia back then was an incredibly homophobic country. I was picked on at school for being gay before I even realized I was. The kind of bullying wasn’t just psychological either, it was physical,” says Jono and is reminded of an incident that happened at school.

“One time I even was threatened in the toilets with a knife by another student because he “didn’t want a faggot in the room while he was pissing”. School was not a safe place to come out.”

He says that he still expects to be treated with prejudice in his homeland.

“Even today in Australia you can expect to have something shouted at you for holding hands with another man. It sticks with you well into your adult life. Even now as a professional gay (someone who is gay for a living) when I hold hands with a man in Iceland, there is still a thought in the back of my mind saying: “Will someone kill me for this?” I noticed things had started to change a little when my brother was in high school. The other students were more ok with kids being gay and over time I think that has started to change society, but there is still a long way to go,” says Jono. The first thing he noticed when he moved to Iceland was that there weren’t any gay ghettos in Reykjavík.

“Well, if joking about fucking Páll Óskar got me a music video gig, then maybe I should start setting my sights on Jónsi.”

“In Australia, and a lot of other countries in the world, there are neighborhoods where clusters of gays live. This is usually because of the whole safety in numbers thought. If they live around gay people they won’t have to deal with the threat of homophobia. There isn’t really anything like that here. I think that has something to do with the very low rates of homophobia in Iceland. I’ve noticed that because of a small population, everyone who grows up here tends to know someone who is sexually or gender diverse. In turn this means that we aren’t just a concept to everyone, we’re a human being. Because of this, there doesn’t seem to be a need for us all to live in the one neighborhood.”

Caitlyn Jenner is bat shit crazy

Jono has said in past interviews that it’s easier for him to make fun of gays because he is one himself. But what about the other minorities that make up the queer community? Does he joke about them as well?

Jono thinks that laughter combined with visibility can be a powerful weapon for the LGBTQI+ community.
Jono thinks that laughter combined with visibility can be a powerful weapon for the LGBTQI+ community.

“I don’t really make fun of the other letters of the rainbow alphabet. Occasionally I’ve made jokes about lesbians but that’s more about me being closer to a stereotypical lesbian than a gay man. Oh, and I’ve made fun of Caitlyn Jenner but that has nothing to do with her being trans, it was about the fact that she’s a bit homophobic and bat shit crazy.

I have a bit of an old-fashioned belief in that you should always make fun of yourself first. If you run out of things to make fun of in yourself, then you can start to look for it in other people, but only people who can take it. Like celebrities, politicians and Keira Knightly – she knows what she did.”

This year we’ve seen tragedies in the queer community such as the shooting in Orlando. Do you think you can battle prejudice with humor?
“In my experience yes. When I am doing stand up for a straight audience I like to think I am doing that by educating. When I’m on stage talking about the intricacies of Grindr or what is was like to come out, I’ve noticed that “light bulb” moment on people’s faces. That moment where they realize that you are a human; a flawed human just like them who is trying to do their best to pretend to have their shit together, just like everyone else.

“We live in a world where there is so much time spent on saying the right thing … but it’s also important to spend time not taking ourselves too seriously. I’ve been doing comedy for 12 years and I am yet to see something unify a room as quickly and effectively as humor.”

I’ve even been approached by men who I wouldn’t walk down a dark alley with in the past who have told me that because they saw my show they realized that gay people are “alright”. Now I wouldn’t say that’s the best choice of word but it’s a start,” says Jono with a grin. He believes humor can unify people and thinks that laughter combined with visibility can be a powerful weapon for the LGBTQI+ community.

“I think visibility is paramount and humor certainly helps, especially if you’re not afraid to make fun of yourself. We live in a world now where there is so much time spent on saying the right thing or choosing words carefully, which is important, but I think it’s also important to spend time not taking ourselves too seriously. We need to give others permission to laugh at our comedic moments just like they do for everyone else. I’ve been doing comedy for 12 years and I am yet to see something unify a room as quickly and effectively as humor.”

The ultimate rejection

Jono is outspoken and can sometimes shock people to their very core. He’s even said that the only reason he moved to Iceland was to fuck the famous singer Páll Óskar.
“It has not happened, but if it ever does I will live tweet the shit out of it. You could say it was the ultimate rejection. Instead of accepting my advances, he just gave me a job – to make a music video,” says Jono with a laugh. But has he found another prey?

“Well, if joking about fucking Páll Óskar got me a music video gig, then maybe I should start setting my sights on Jónsi.”

But it’s not all jokes and laughs. Jono has had some pretty awful moments as a comedian as well.

Jono is not only performing his own show on Friday. He’s also hosting the biggest DragSúgur, a drag show on Tuesday, and doing his regular show with Bylgja Babýlons, The Minority Report, on Wednesday.
Jono’s show Australiana is one of his many contributions to this year’s Reykjavík Pride. He’s also hosting DragSúgur, a drag show on Tuesday, and doing his regular show with Bylgja Babýlons, The Minority Report, on Wednesday.

“Plenty. There’s always times where the audience is a bit too drunk, or talking, or there’s someone who insists that all comedians like to be heckled and it’s a part of the experience.

I would say that the worst experiences have always been my fault though. Either I didn’t prepare enough or I didn’t think enough about my audience. One time back in Melbourne I did a whole set about anal sex and the audience was almost completely lesbian. I completely bombed.

In most cases you really can’t blame your audience. One of the tough things in comedy is that you’re only as good as your last gig so when you have a bad one, you need to get right back up again and do a good one. It’s a bit like being in a car accident. The longer you wait to get back behind the wheel, the harder it will be.”

Jono is not only performing his own show on Friday. He’s also hosting the biggest DragSúgur, a drag show tonight (Tuesday), and doing his regular show with Bylgja Babýlons, The Minority Report, on Wednesday. If that’s not plenty, he is also involved with the artistic direction of the opening event on Thursday. So will he join the Pride Parade as well?

“I’ve been asked by a few different groups if I will join their float but I’m torn. I actually love to watch the parade but I guess being the only openly gay comedian in the country I probably should march. Maybe I’ll even do it in drag, who knows?”

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

—————-

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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