Faroe Islands have made a great achievement

Icelandic writer, Jónína Leósdóttir, will be reading from her book at an event in Tórshavn in Faroe Islands this evening, prior to the Faroe Pride festival commencing tomorrow where her wife, former PM of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, will participate. GayIceland got a hold of Jónína as she was practising reading excerpts from her book in Danish, for tonight’s crowd.

Writer Jónína Leósdóttir will be attending the Faroe Pride this year alongside her wife Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, the former Prime Minister of Iceland.

How does it feel, being invited to participate in Faroe Pride? “Just fantastic! We were invited last year but had prior engagements and were really sorry about that. But it’s going to be no less fun participating this year as we can now celebrate that same-sex couples in Faroe Islands can now get married. We’re so happy for them; Jóhanna and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary last month, when we were at World Pride in Madrid.”

It’s also almost 7 years since then Prime Minister Jóhanna and Jónína experienced prejudice in the Faroe Islands where they were on an official visit. One of the Faroese MPs, the leader of the Central Party, refused to attend a dinner party held in the honour of the Icelandic PM, apparently as he didn’t accept same-sex relationships.

What was this experience like for you? “Personally, it didn’t offend me at all. But I was saddened on behalf of the many Faroese people who got upset about his behaviour. I actually thought it was a little funny that he should say he wasn’t coming because of my presence and that Jóhanna was flaunting her sexuality by having  me accompanying her on the visit.”

Do you and Jóhanna follow the matters of queer people in Faroe Islands especially after this experience? “Yes, we’ve been watching the developments closely through e.g. the Facebook page of the LGBT society there. I also have a gay cousin who’s settled down there with his Faroese husband.”

“Faroe Islands have made an incredible achievement in such a short time. I admire them. It’s difficult everywhere to change attitudes but, in my opinion, especially so in small communities.”

Things have evolved quickly in Faroe Islands lately with same-sex marriage legalised 1st of July this year, after the bill passing in third attempt in April 2016. Can you explain this quick change since your visit in 2010? “There was much turbulence after Jóhanna’s official visit and thousands of Faroese people joined a Facebook group where people objected the MP’s conduct. Soon after, an LGBT society was formed there and they established the Faroe Pride. Now, an openly gay woman is an MP at the Faroese Parliament and they’ve just legalized same-sex marriage so the diligent campaigners in Faroe Islands have made an incredible achievement in such a short time. I admire them. It’s difficult everywhere to change attitudes but, in my opinion, especially so in small communities.”

The cover of the book detailing the relationship of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and her wife Jónína Leósdóttir. The book, written by Jónína, is entitled “Jóhanna and I” (Við Jóhanna).

You will be reading excerpts from your book “Jóhanna and I” at a bookshop in the shopping centre in Tórshavn. Have you noticed much interest in the event? Is the book available in Faroese? “The book shop will be selling it in both Icelandic and Danish, I suppose it’s easier for Faroese to read the Danish rather than the Icelandic, unless they’ve lived in Iceland for some time. Unfortunately, my Danish is very rusty so I will be talking about the book in English, but the reading will be in Danish – I’m just about choosing which chapters to read and practicing reading out loud in Danish!”

Why did you feel it was important to tell your story? “Because the story of Jóhanna and I isn’t just a story about two individuals, but also a story of a massive change in attitude that happened towards the end of the 20th century. When our relationship began, in 1985, homosexuals were still being banned from bars and clubs, the words “lesbian” and “gay” were banned in broadcasts from the National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) and so on. Just last week, I attended the funeral of the first chair of Samtökin ’78, Guðni Baldursson. He and his comrades – and the people who then followed – completely changed Icelandic society.”

Jónína’s event starts at 7pm in Rit og Rák, Tinghúsvegur 60, Tórshavn.

The opening ceremony of Faroe Pride starts at 4pm tomorrow, in Tórshavn, where Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, former PM of Iceland, will address the crowd.

Happy Pride, people of Faroe Islands!

Main photo: Sigurþór Gunnlauggson.

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

    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.

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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.

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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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        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.

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          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.

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          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

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