Reykjavík Pride: Celebrating Icelandic LGBTQIA+art and artists

The annual Reykjavik Pride starts today and will take place until August 13th . The theme this year is art and artists and GayIceland asked the chair of the Reykjavik Pride committee, Eva María Þórarinsdóttir Lange, what that meant and if this years Pride would be in any way different from the Prides of former years.

Eva María says that the contribution of queer artists has been monumental in changing minds and changing hearts towards LGBTQI people in Iceland. Which is one of the reason for this year’s Pride theme.

The first question was simply what the theme “art and artists” entails.
“Yes the theme of Reykjavik Pride for 2017 is LGBTQIA+ art and artists celebrating the rich culture of Icelandic LGBTQIA+ artists who have sometimes been known for their boldness and creativity. Furthermore they’ve been known for using their art as a platform to ask uncomfortable questions about their life and identity. Their contribution has been monumental in changing minds and changing hearts towards LGBTQIA+ people in the Icelandic society. This year’s schedule includes a wide variety of events, such as film screenings, concerts, photo exhibitions and literature events that will hopefully give a small taste of what Icelandic LGBTQIA+ culture has to offer, along with a wide variety of educational events. Art can be performed and perceived in so many ways that we think it fits our festival really well to create a platform for all kind of arts in all the colors of the rainbow.”

Does that mean the program will be different from former years?
“Well nothing is really traditional when it comes to Pride festivities, however there are events that have been well received throughout the years and therefore have become “traditional pride events” such as the Queer Cruise, the Opening Ceremony, the Family Festival and the Pride Parade of course. This past year a few iconic queer artists passed away and one of them was George Micheal. So on August 8th the talented singer Friðrik Ómar will set on stage a George Michael Tribute with the help of some amazing singers and musicians and I must say that I’m really looking forward to this event since George Michael has always been a favourite of mine.

We Icelanders love our hot water and our hot pools, in all kinds of weather and we certainly love ice cream (yes also in all kinds of weather) and we think that these two things go really well together. So on Sunday August 13th we’ll meet up for some pool chilling and ice cream. What’s not to love about that?! To know more, show up in your swim wear.”

“… the theme of Reykjavik Pride for 2017 is LGBTQIA+ art and artists celebrating the rich culture of Icelandic LGBTQIA+ artists who have sometimes been known for their boldness and creativity.”

Which artists will perform?
“Many of our beloved artists will perform such as Bergþór Pálsson, Friðrik Ómar, Kristjana Stefáns and Lay Low. Others will shake things up a little such as the amazingly cool women in the performing band Reykjavíkurdætur and the fabulous queens and kings of Drag-Súgur. This year we also have a new official Pride song called The Colors of the Rainbow sung by the wonderful Daníel Arnarsson. A feast for all of your senses.”

This is Eva María’s last year as the chair of Reykjavík Pride committee and she says that the experience has been quite educational.

Are the guests in for some surprises?
“If I tell, it won’t be a surprise. With that said, Pride and Pride’s performers are full of surprises and who knows what will happen! For those who don’t want to miss a thing and take fully part in the queerness I recommend the Pride Pass. By the way, the Pride Pass is exceptionally generous this year.”

Any stars among the performers?
“We’ll be enjoying some divas, as always. This year we’re going mainly for local talent as we have so much talent over here and with the theme being LGBTQI art and artists we are excited to offer a colorful, camp and charismatic programme.”

This is your last year as chair of the Pride committee, has it been an educational experience?
“Oh yes, that would even be an understatement.”

Why are you quitting?
“Each individual can not have the same role in the board more than six years in a row and not sit on the board more than ten years. This is my sixth year as a chair of the board, so I’ve done my time. I will by no means disappear though. I will be on the sideline for some years to come.
I’m running my own company and it has been very difficult to combine that which so much volunteering. Even though I’m a workaholic I’m slowly realising that I can’t be everywhere at all times – I have to take care of myself too.”

But the Reykjavik Pride has been like your baby for six years, will it not be hard to let go of it?

The Reykjavík Pride board, upper row from the left: Gunnlaugur Bragi Björnsson, Eva María with Strumpur the dog and Karen Ósk Magnúsdóttir. Lower row: Jón Kjartan Ágústsson and Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson.

“Of course it will be hard to “let go”, but also good for me and my nearest and dearest. I think the people around me, especially my fiancé, Birna, will be very happy that I get a bit more leisure time. To be chair in an association like Reykjavik Pride can take it’s toll. It’s all volunteering work and often it puts a lot of strain on your life.”

“This is my sixth year as a chair of the board, so I’ve done my time. I will by no means disappear though. I will be on the sideline for some years to come.”

Have you had to put up with a lot of criticism in this job?
“In a job like this you learn quickly to armour yourself against criticism which can often be hurtful. It’s hard to try to please everybody. The queer society is very diverse and it can be difficult to find the middle road. To do that one needs a lot of patience and to be ready to listen to all the different voices.
But you learn it all step by step as time goes on and the most important thing is to make decisions carefully and base them on facts, not just your own preferences.
Having said that let me emphasize that everything you do for the Reykjavik Pride comes straight from the heart and as long as that is so you still have the passion and endurance.”

Has it been decided who will take your place as the chair?
“No, there will be a vote next year in March when we will have our annual meeting. Exciting!”

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.

      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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