From a grey soviet city to a festival of color, campness and culture

Reykjavik Pride takes over the city like it would in any other European capital (learn the lesson, Istanbul) and is a wonderful opportunity for both party and protest. For six days, the queer people of Iceland take to the streets, covering everything in rainbows and glitter, to celebrate their bizarre deviations from the norm and to demand special rights.

Wanda Starr has made a name for herself as the a blogger on Guide to Iceland and as a member of the performing arts group Drag-Súgur.

It’s absolutely hilarious. You get to see boys kissing boys, people dressed in the wrong clothes, even women riding motorcycles (which I hope, for their safety, are being remotely controlled by their husbands). I know that all those things sound incredibly dark and dangerous, but with all the sparkles and rainbows, it’s like watching a Disney Channel realisation of Sodom and Gomorrah.

I initially refused to go to Reykjavík Pride when I arrived, as I couldn’t fathom what anyone in Reykjavík had to be proud of. If you’ve read my blogs at Guide to Iceland, you’ll know how I feel about such Wildlings. Upon discovering what it actually meant, however, I was intrigued to see whether the LGBTQIA community could bring any camp to this bleak, miserable city.

Turns out, they effortlessly could. It was awe-inspiring; for the first time ever, I was seeing culture in Iceland without watching international television. I’ve been an avid attendee ever since, and I’m not the only one who loves it. Up to a hundred thousand people come downtown to watch the Pride parade, a third of the country. It’s a shame that the other two thirds are so homophobic, but as we know, Icelanders are an incredibly bigoted people, proven by the fact that we can’t trust statistics.

This year is due to be the biggest yet.

“I initially refused to go to Reykjavík Pride when I arrived, as I couldn’t fathom what anyone in Reykjavík had to be proud of … however, It was awe-inspiring; for the first time ever, I was seeing culture in Iceland without watching international television.”

The entertainment promises to be non-stop; the best talent of Reykjavík (still admittedly mediocre by international standards) will be out performing all over the city. The Icelandic drag troupe, Drag-Súgur, will be having a legendary special guest of their own, who will be performing in their blowout Extravaganza. I’m not saying she’s world famous, I’m not saying she’s won crowns, and I’m saying she’s been a serious contestant on Rupaul’s Drag Race, because it’s me!

Though my four-minute performance will no doubt be the highlight of everybody’s festival, there will be events going on in the build-up to and aftermath of it. Many of these occur during Saturday and Sunday, and are attended by the tens of people who aren’t in bed with alcohol poisoning.

The parties do get wild – admittedly the best I’ve been to in Reykjavík. I don’t know what happened last time, I don’t know what I did, but each morning during Pride I woke up with two fistfuls of money and a bed full of Kurdish men. You can’t say no to that.

The weekdays are packed too. You can attend the screening of a queer movie… I guess Sex in the City 2 or something. You can also learn about the stigma and prevention of sexual health, and decide for yourself which one we should increase and which we should decrease. There are also seminars where you can learn about sexual minorities who are less visible, such as those on the asexual spectrum, who sadly chose grey as the main color of the flag so are harder to see at the Pride events.

“August 8th to 13th will no doubt be the only six days worth visiting in Iceland. Reykjavík changes from a grey, barrent, soviet city with an air best described as ‘Chernobyl-y’ to a festival of color, campness and culture.”

Reykjavík Pride is not just for grown-ups; many parents bring their children to join into the fun.

This is a wonderful way for new generation to understand the fluidity of gender, the celebration of the self, the diversity of sexuality and the undeniable thrill of BDSM.

It’s also a great chance for gay men and women to indoctrinate the fascinated kids, ensuring the survival of this wild party for years to come.

To conclude, the days of August 8th to 13th will no doubt be the only six days worth visiting in Iceland. Reykjavík changes from a grey, barren, soviet city with an air best described as ‘Chernobyl-y’ to a festival of colour, campness and culture.

Bring your most colourful clothing, all the sexual protection you can fit in your bag, and turn the portrait of Jesus you have hanging to face the wall in shame, because Reykjavík Pride is upon us.

Main photo: Sigurþór Gunnlaugsson

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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