“We support queer rights!”

GayIceland brings you the latest news and stories from the queer community in Iceland. We’re proud and happy to be backed by companies, organisations and wonderful people who believe that queer rights matter. Here is what they have to say.


Íshestar

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Jenný Maggý Rúriksdóttir, the marketing manager of Íshestar.

“We’re simply opposed to discrimination. In our eyes everyone is equal whether they are queer or not and the fight for LGBTI+ rights in Iceland is a worthy cause, which aims to eliminate prejudice,” says Jenný Maggý Rúriksdóttir, marketing manager of Íshestar, when asked about the company’s stance when it comes to queer rights.

“… the fight for LGBTI+ rights in Iceland is a worthy cause.”

Íshestar is a riding tour operator who has been offering horseback riding tours in Iceland for more than 30 years.

The company is also a sponsor of GayIceland. “By supporting GayIceland we want to show the LGBTI+ community how important we think it is to advocate for human rights and that LGBTI+ people are welcome to travel around Iceland and of course welcome to ride with us,” says Jenný and adds that it doesn’t hurt that GayIceland is a fun and vibrant website.


Núðluskálin

Kristján and Sigurður.
Kristján Hannesson and Sigurður Eysteinsson, owners of Núðluskálin.

“Núðluskálin is a gay owned and operated restaurant so the fight for LGBTI+ rights in Iceland is our rights struggle,” says Sigurður Jónas Eysteinsson who alongside his husband Kristján Jörgen Hannesson, owns and runs Núðluskálin.

“… the fight for LGBTI+ rights in Iceland is our rights struggle.”

Núðluskálin is a fushion noodle bar in the heart of Reykjavík.

Sigurður says that because of his and his husband’s stance on queer rights it’s their pleasure and duty to support a queer owned and operated media like GayIceland.


Seatours

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Nadine Walter, the marketing manager of Seatours (Sæferðir).

Seatours is a long-established tourist company located in the picturesque coastal town of Stykkisholmur. Marketing manager Nadine Walters is very clear when asked why Seatours backs the Icelandic LGBTI+ community in it’s fight for equal rights.

“… we think that everyone should be equal.“

“Because we think that everyone should be equal,” she simply answers and adds that a website like GayIceland is a good platform for the company to advertise and reach out to the LGBTI+ community.


Landsbankinn

From left: Elín Dóra Halldórsdóttir, Erna Guðrún Sigurðardóttir, Hulda Klara Lárusdóttir og Berglind Guðmundsdóttir.
Employees of Landsbankinn with their rainbow bands. From left: Elín Dóra Halldórsdóttir, Erna Guðrún Sigurðardóttir, Hulda Klara Lárusdóttir og Berglind Guðmundsdóttir.

Landsbankinn celebrates diversity in society and wants to contribute to the LGBTI+ community’s fight for equal rights. “Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of Reykjavík Pride for years and this year will be no different,” says Rún Ingvarsdóttir, specialist at Landsbankinn, a bank headquartered in Reykjavík. “In addition to supporting the festival with funding, Landsbankinn has distributed the festival’s flyer in all its branches in order to promote the festival even better throughout the country. A week before the festival begins employees of the bank show their support by wearing rainbow-colored bands (holding staff cards) around their necks.”

“Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of Reykjavík Pride for years and this year will be no different.”

Rún says that Landsbankinn fully supports the LGBTI+ community’s fight for equal rights in Iceland. “The bank sponsors GayIceland because it’s an ambitious and vibrant platform for discussions about the queer community and culture in Iceland,“ she points out. “It’s also important for all the tourists traveling to Iceland.”


Whales of Iceland

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Marinó Muggur Þorbjarnarson, oversees education and marketing at Whales of Iceland.

Whales of Iceland, with its life-sized models, an interactive installation and virtual reality experience, is the largest whales exhibition of its kind in the world. Marinó Muggur Þorbjarnarson, who oversees education and marketing, says that openly supporting queer rights is important to the company. “Icelanders are very proud of the freedom in Iceland and how far human rights have come here. The freedom of love is highly valued in our country. So you could say that Iceland is a beam of light when it comes to the LGBTI+ community’s struggle for human rights.”

“Icelanders are very proud of the freedom in Iceland and how far human rights have come here. The freedom of love is highly valued in our country.”

He goes on: “Whales of Iceland is a large travel company and regards itself in a way as an ambassador of the Icelandic culture and society. We respect the rights of LGBTI+ people and it is our pleasure to support a media like GayIceland that mediates their struggle to visitors coming to the country.”


Macland

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Hörður Ágústsson, owner of Macland.

“We are a company that doesn’t want to see any discrimination in any field. We are all here on this planet and differentiation is our main problem. Diversity is the most beautiful thing about our species, and we should celebrate that, not hinder or suppress. As singer Páll Óskar put it perhaps best: “Out with hate and in with love (must sing this to get the right feel to it)”,” says Hörður Ágústsson, owner of the innovative and “humane” computer store Macland.

“Out with hate and in with the love.”

Hörður doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind when it comes to Macland’s support for GayIceland. “Macland is a service company founded on the basis that all our customers are equal and should receive the same quality service. Gayiceland.is an excellent enterprise run by individuals who have had to fight for their rights from birth and we want to lend our support as much as we can. We who are born into privilege (a white male in Iceland is in that position) as I am, need to go ahead and join the fight. Anything else is not an option.”


Tommi’s Burger Joint

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Tómas Tómasson, on the right, is the founder and owner of Tommi’s Burger Joint, which has become an international restaurant chain.

The international restaurant chain Tommi’s Burger Joint is the creation of Icelandic entrepreneur Tómas Tómasson.

Tómas, or Tommi, is a legend with in the Icelandic restaurant industry and known as the guy who brought hamburgers to Iceland. And he’s certainly not afraid to speak his mind about discrimination. “It is ludicrous to discriminate against LGBTI+ people! People should be allowed to be exactly who they are!”

“It is ludicrous to discriminate against LGBTI+ people!”

Having ties to the LGBTI+ community in Iceland, Tómas says he wants to show his support to the community. “I want to support the cause and show solidarity in action,” he says, referring Tommi’s Burger Joint support of GayIceland.


Blue Lagoon

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“A diverse society makes our society richer,” says Atli Sigurður, project manager of the marketing department at the Bue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most popular attractions and a sponsor of GayIceland. Atli Sigurður Kristjánsson, a project manager of the marketing department at the Blue Lagoon, says the company wants to contribute to human rights. “We wholeheartedly support human rights and think that a diverse society makes our society both richer and more beautiful. GayIceland.is is a high quality website, and important one, and we congratulate those who are behind it.”

“We support human rights and think a diverse society makes our society both richer and more beautiful.”


Dohop

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Davíð Gunnarsson, Dohop CEO.

Dohop is a free and independent travel search engine, which finds the cheapest flights, cars and hotels. Davíð Gunnarsson, Dohop CEO, is very clear on why the company supports queer rights. “We believe that everyone should live their life exactly as they want. It’s as simple as that.”

 “We believe that everyone should live their life exactly as they want.“

Dohop is a sponsor of GayIceland and Davíð says it’s because the company simply wants people who are interested in visiting Iceland to have access to information that is useful to them.
“The material on GayIceland.is a great help to those who are LGBTI+ and are interested in visiting Iceland.”


Mjólkursamsalan

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Gréta Björg Jakobsdóttir works at the marketing department of MS.

Mjólkursamsalan (MS Iceland Dairies) is a cooperative organisation that includes over 700 of Iceland’s family-run dairy farms and other milk producers across the country. Gréta Björg Jakobsdóttir, who is part of the marketing team, says that MS focuses on equality and supports various matters related to it, including LGBTI+ issues. “Our Human resource is the most important resource and Mjólkursamsalan’s policy is that their employees are not discriminated against because of gender, sexual orientation, religion or other factors.”

“Supporting GayIceland is part of our social responsibility … “

Gréta adds that Mjólkursamsalan has for many years focused on supporting community projects. “Supporting GayIceland is part of our social responsibility which we take great pride in. Among other projects we are proudly funding are the promotion the Icelandic language, entrepreneurship of various types and support for numerous charities and sports.”


Icelandic Mountain Guides

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Arnar Már Ólafsson, director of marketing at Icelandic Mountain Guides.

Icelandic Mountain Guides is Iceland’s premier adventure tour operator. Director of marketing Arnar Már Ólafsson says there is no doubt when it comes to the company’s stance on queer rights.

“We support the rights of LGBTI+ people in Iceland. The issue revolves around fundamental human rights.”

“The issue revolves around fundamental human rights.“

One way of ways Icelandic Mountain Guides shows their support to the LGBTI+ cause is by sponsoring GayIceland.

“LGBTI+ people are obviously a group of people who we welcome in our trips,” says Arnar. “We believe that GayIceland is a good platform to reach them.”


Aurora Reykjavík

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Grétar Jónsson, the founder and director, CFO of Aurora Reykjavik.

Aurora Reykjavík is Iceland’s first educational and recreational Northern Lights Center where multimedia is used to explain when, why and how the Northern Lights work. Grétar Jónsson, the founder and Director, CFO at Aurora Reykjavík, says that the company’s view on queer rights is clear. “In our opinion we all have the same right; as we see it well in our work where we meet a very broad range of people, it does not matter what color of skin you have, what religion you are, where you come from or if you are queer. The people have all been great and everybody means well.

“In our opinion we all have the same right; it does not matter what color of skin you have, what religion you are, where you come from or if you are queer.”

Those who have something against these groups usually lack knowledge on issues surrounding them and therefore we think it’s good to have made a contribution to change that,” he says, referring to Aurora Reykjavík‘s sponsorship of GayIceland.

“When GayIceland reached out, we had recently decided to put more money into internet marketing and this was the ideal start. In addition, we are very concerned about human rights and so we hit two birds with one stone by sponsoring GayIceland.”

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