Sigur Rós send a clear message to a notorious queerphobe

Icelandic post-rock band, Sigur Rós, have come up with a brilliant response to Australia‘s Margaret Court homophobic comments by having a special T-shirt made for their Australia gigs later this month.

The T-shirt was designed by Andrew Rae, a London based artist, and features both a male and female couple depicted on a coat of arms, along with wedding wings, gum nuts, mushrooms and Eucalyptus leaves. “As long as some people still think they have the right to decide who other people fall in love with, then there’s still work to be done,” Rae said.

Sigur Rós singer Jón Þór Birgisson (photo/DC Code) and his bandmates have responded to Margaret Court’s homophobic rants. Her latest claim is that trans people were abused as kids.
Photo of Margaret/Screenshot from Pedestrian TV.

The design also sports the Icelandic and Australian flags and the words “Sameinuð stöndum vér” which is the Icelandic version of “United we stand (divided we fall)” – a phrase that was prominently used during Icelanders’ fight for independence. Also, for the longest time, this phrase was written in masculine form “Sameinaðir stöndum vér” – as is common in the Icelandic language – but in recent years, activists have pointed out that the verbs in the phrase should be written in neutral form, to include all genders; so even that little bit is a shout-out to equality and a nod to past fights for rights as well as an encouragement for sticking together to banish prejudice and hatred from the world.

Margaret Court, a former world No 1 in tennis, is now a Christian minister in Perth, Australia, and made the world news in May when she condemned Quantas for supporting same-sex marriage, declaring she would boycott the Australian airline. Court then made further homophobic comments in the media which caused outrage, stating e.g. that same-sex marriage was causing huge problems in countries where it was legalised, that homosexuality was an ungodly “lust for the flesh” and that LGBT tendencies in young people were “all the devil”.

Sigur Rós are going to be playing three gigs in Australia later this month, thereof one at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, named so after the tennis legend although a huge group of Australians have demanded the stadium to be renamed after Court‘s homophobic rants.

“We want to add our voice to the call for marriage equality in Australia … Australia should be a country that celebrates positivity and inclusion, as well as achievement on the sporting field.”

“We know Margaret Court’s opinions are not shared by the majority of Australians. We want to add our voice to the call for marriage equality in Australia —right here on Margaret Court Arena itself. Australia should be a country that celebrates positivity and inclusion, as well as achievement on the sporting field,” reads a statement from Sigur Rós.

A bill to allow same-sex marriage was rejected by the Senate in Australia last November, after passing in the House of Representatives with 76 votes against 67.

 

Sigur Rós are going to be playing three gigs in Australia later this month, thereof one at the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, named so after the tennis legend who has recently made headlines because of her homophobic rants. Photo/Destination Alan

Sigur Rós’ full statement:
DEAR MELBOURNE & AUSTRALIA,

Since we formed Sigur Rós some twenty years ago, we have been lucky enough to visit Australia seven times. We’re very much looking forward to our eighth visit this July.

We are currently in the middle of our worldwide tour, playing more than 130 shows and visiting 39 countries. Along the way we have played some of the world’s finest venues, and we’re finishing with a residence at the Harpa Concert Hall in our home town of Reykjavík, Iceland at the end of this year.

Our next Melbourne show is set to take place on July 27th at Margaret Court Arena. Our fans and friends have made us aware of recent comments by Margaret Court regarding her opposition to Qantas’s support of same-sex marriage in Australia, and her wider views on race and sexuality.

Iceland is a country where same-sex partnerships have been recognised since 1996, and where same-sex couples have enjoyed the same adoption rights as straight couples since 2006. Same sex marriages were unanimously approved in our parliament in 2010 (our then prime minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, was the world’s first openly gay PM, and one of the very first Icelanders to be married under this legislation). We are also happy to say that since 2008 the Church of Iceland, and all other religions, were officially granted permission to bless same-sex unions.

The T-shirt that Sigur Rós got Andrew Raw to design for their upcoming shows in Australia. The proceeds from its sales will go towards support of Australian marriage equality.

We know Margaret Court’s opinions are not shared by the majority of Australians. We want to add our voice to the call for marriage equality in Australia —right here on Margaret Court Arena itself. Australia should be a country that celebrates positivity and inclusion, as well as achievement on the sporting field.

“We know Margaret Court’s opinions are not shared by the majority of Australians. We want to add our voice to the call for marriage equality in Australia —right here on Margaret Court Arena itself.”

We’ve decided to commission a special tee-shirt for this Melbourne show, which we’ll also sell at our Sydney show and at Splendour in the Grass, proceeds from which will go towards support of Australian marriage equality.

Let’s make July 27th Margaret Court arena’s most inclusive night ever and call for every Australian to have the same dignity and respect right here on centre court.

Takk fyrir,
SIGUR RÓS

Main photo: José Goulao.

Blush

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    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

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      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.

       

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        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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        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.

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        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
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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.

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        Landsbankinn
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        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.

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        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
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        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.

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        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
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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.

          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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