First bar in Iceland to remove gender signs

Gender signs have been removed from the restrooms at the bar Gaukurinn in the city center of Reykjavík in an effort to make them gender neutral. Owner and manager of the bar, Sólveig Johnsen, says it’s discriminating that some people don’t feel comfortable going to the bathroom because of gender signs and wants to do all she can to fight for equality for all in Iceland. SUMMARY HERE.

adsf
Sólveig Johnsen, bar owner and manager of bar Gaukurinn has had gender signs removed from restrooms of her establishment to make everyone feel welcome. She thinks other bar owners and managers should do the same.

“We just changed the signs and I find it so amazing that it’s considered to be something special. I mean it’s the toilet for crying out loud,” says Sólveig Johnsen, owner and manager of Gaukurinn, a bar in down town Reykjavík.

The restrooms at Gaukurinn now have no gender signs and when entering the restrooms it only reads: “All gender restrooms”. This is the first bar in Reykjavík to remove gender labels and Sólveig says it’s her answer to the gender duplicity that exists in Iceland and all over the world when it comes to restrooms.

“The idea of the two genders is obsolete. But it seems to be natural for restrooms to be gender labelled. That is probably the biggest reason behind why I wanted to do this. I wanted to take a stand against this gender duplicity and as an owner of a bar I can do something and I feel like it is my duty to do so. I feel I should do what I can to fight for equality,” says Sólveig who has carried this idea within her for a while now.

“I wanted to take a stand against this gender duplicity and as an owner of a bar I can do something and I feel like it is my duty to do so. I feel I should do what I can to fight for equality.”

“To not be able to go to the restroom you feel most comfortable going to is just so discriminating. I mean, it’s a bathroom. It’s not asking for much. Even though I’m a part of a privileged group of white women I’ve experienced frustration at places where there are two, identical restrooms, one for women and one for men. And even though the men’s room is not occupied and the ladies’ is, I still have to wait like a fool for the ladies’ because I’m not allowed to use the men’s room.

So, I can’t even imagine how people who don’t identify themselves as male or female feel about never going to a bathroom with a label that they are comfortable with. And to be harassed because someone doesn’t like which bathroom you choose. It’s so absurd.”

Increased safety with gender neutral restrooms

Sólveig runs Gaukurinn with her significant other, Starri Hauksson. They have no concerns about the safety of their customers when using the restrooms because they don’t believe that gender sign protect people against violence.

“I think that safety should increase if anything with these sort of changes. We have good people working for us who are very conscious of these changes and monitor the restrooms closely. I don’t believe that separate restroom for men and women automatically give you security. If everyone is on their best behavior we can all be friends. You can’t stop violence with gender labelled restrooms. There are other things at play.

adsf
The entrance leading to the restrooms has a sign indicating that everyone, all genders are welcome to use them. The doors of the restrooms themselves however are not labelled with typical gender signs anymore.

It also matters that we have great employees and we encourage our customers to notify them if they experience anything that could be considered as harassment. I think people feel more safe if they know that they can always turn to someone within the establishment and that their voices will be heard.”

Gaukurinn has had a very close relationship with the performance art drag group Drag-Súgur and Sólveig says that bond is one of the reasons why Gaukurinn is a queer friendly bar, one of few in Iceland.

“They are our friends and we shared a float with them at the Pride Parade. I believe that the artists in Drag-Súgur have made us more aware about all the colors of the queer umbrella and helped us in the making of the gender neutral restrooms,” says Sólveig, who also did her fair share of research before changing the bathrooms.

“I urge all managers to follow my lead … in a dream world all restrooms in Iceland will be gender neutral in a year’s time and we will all live together in harmony.”

“We had planned to refurbish our restrooms and make them gender neutral for a while. But construction drew long and Reykjavík Pride was coming up. So we decided to keep our old restroom and just change the signs in time for Reykjavík Pride. So the restrooms aren’t as perfect as I would

A legendary bar Gaukurinn is a live music venue and bar, situated in downtown Reykjavík.
A legendary bar Gaukurinn is a live music venue and bar, situated in downtown Reykjavík.

like them to be but it’s a huge step in the direction that we want to go. When I got this idea I read a lot of articles written by people abroad that are fighting for gender neutral restrooms. I also read about some places that had changed their labelling and wrote a thread on Facebook to see what people thought about this idea and how I could make it better. The responses I got there were extremely positive,” says Sólveig.

It’s only been a week now since Gaukurinn removed the gender signs but Sólveig says that the response has been good. “I, personally, have not heard anything negative. People love the concept and the bartenders get positive comments about it all the time. Granted, it’s only been a week so maybe I will at some point have to face people with old-fashioned and out-dated opinions but those people can just go somewhere else. If these restrooms stop you in having fun then you have bigger problems.

But hopefully some people will walk into Gaukurinn, see the restrooms and thinks: “All genders? I thought there were only two”, and do some research. Visibility is the key to fight prejudice and to educate about all the different groups within the LGBTQI+ community.”

Urges all public places to remove gender signs

It made headlines in the beginning of this year when Akurskóli, an Icelandic elementary school, removed gender signs from it’s bathrooms in an effort to become gender neutral. The principal of the school urged other schools to follow their example and that’s exactly what Sólveig wants as well – for other bars and clubs to change their labelling.

Last winter school officials of Akurskóli had gender signs removed from the school’s restrooms, in order for the school to become more gender neutral.
Last winter school officials of Akurskóli had gender signs removed from the school’s restrooms, in order for the school to become more gender neutral.

“And not just bars and clubs but all public places. Someone has to take the first step and I’m glad that it was me. I know that some managers are worried about bad publicity but I think those worries are uncalled for – except if your client base is narrow-minded. I urge all managers to follow my lead and in a dream world all restrooms in Iceland will be gender neutral in a year’s time and we will all live together in harmony.”

Reykjavík city has also turned to the national queer organisation Samtökin ’78 and Trans Iceland for a review on a suggestion that was sent by trans activist Ugla Stefanía to the city council about gender neutral public bathrooms and public changing rooms. Both Samtökin ’78 and Trans Iceland have given the city council their reviews and both agree that this suggestion should be realized since it regards basic human rights and is an important matter in the fight for equality. The suggestion is currently under review at the city council.

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


          PGlmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lmdvb2dsZS5jb20vbWFwcy9lbWJlZD9wYj0hMW0xNCExbTEyITFtMyExZDI3ODQyLjM0NzA2NDA3OTU4ITJkLTIxLjkwMDg1MDg1NzkxODQyITNkNjQuMTQxNzA3ODE2NzAyMDEhMm0zITFmMCEyZjAhM2YwITNtMiExaTEwMjQhMmk3NjghNGYxMy4xITVlMCEzbTIhMXNlbiEycyE0djE0MzMzMzc5MTUyMjYiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDAlIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwMCUiIGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyPSIwIiBzdHlsZT0iYm9yZGVyOjAiPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==
          Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.