When GayIceland brings you stories about the queer community in Iceland, we do it with the support of our wonderful sponsors. Today, we’re happy to announce three local businesses that have recently come on board to show their support for queer rights.
Hamborgarafabrikkan (The Hamburger Factory)
“The Hamburger Factory is, in our opinion, a restaurant for all Icelanders,” says Hamborgarafabrikkan owner Jóhannes Ásbjörnsson about why his restaurant has become a sponsor of GayIceland. “We want to celebrate the diversity in everyone and we want to welcome everyone.”
“We want to celebrate the diversity in everyone and we want to welcome everyone.”
That diversity is shown in the restaurant’s menu, which features fifteen different burgers made with creative ingredients such as fried eggs, Portobello mushrooms and tiger prawns, all served on freshly-baked Brioche buns.
Jóhannes says the restaurant has supported queer rights in creative ways in the past. For example, for Reykjavík Pride, he says they serve their burgers with the buns upside down “as a token of support to the cause, and also to raise awareness and spur conversation.”
Hamborgarafabrikkan has three locations, with two in Reykjavík and one in Akureyri, where Jóhannes says queer customers can expect the exact same service as any other customer.
Omnom Chocolates
Chocolatier Omnom Chocolate is no stranger to supporting queer causes.
During Eurovision this year the company gave away boxes of Omnom Popp, rainbow-coloured chocolate-covered popcorn as part of its sponsorship of Reykjavík Pride.
During the Pride festivities in August, the company began selling Omnom Popp alongside its Caramel+Milk bar, a milk chocolate bar with sparkly caramel pieces.
“Iceland is a friendly and progressive nation when it comes to these issues compared to most, but there’s always more progress to be made,” says Michael Ryan, chocolate maker at Omnom Chocolate. “We wanted to set an example of how companies can create impact through action.”
“Showing support for these organizations and the queer community as a whole is important for Omnom simply because it’s the right thing to do.”
By sponsoring GayIceland, Michael says that Omnom Chocolate will be able to continue spreading the word about its work to support queer causes in the country.“Showing support for these organizations and the queer community as a whole is important for Omnom simply because it’s the right thing to do,” according to Michael. “We’re not creating rainbow and unicorn products just for the novelty of it. We’ve created them to translate the message of pride.”
Alfred’s Apartments
With 23 spacious apartments in the heart of Reykjavik, as well as a guesthouse and hostel, Alfred’s Apartments is a perfect place for queer travellers to spend their time in Iceland.
The business is completely gay owned and operated, and has a track record of supporting queer causes in the past. In recent years, Alfred’s Apartments has teamed up with Bears on
Ice to offer free accommodations to DJs and other performers who are visiting Iceland for the event.
“When it comes to the gay scene, we need to keep something going and happening, especially for small Iceland,” says Alfreð Hauksson, owner of Alfred’s Apartments.
“I think if you have extra money you should do something like [this] .”
Because everyone who works at the business is gay, Alfreð says gay travellers can feel comfortable staying at Alfred’s Apartments. Employees are also able to give visitors advice about the gay scene in Reykjavík. “I think it’s well-spent money,” Alfreð says about the company’s decision to sponsor GayIceland. “I think it’s very relevant what they’re writing about most of the time.”
He adds that he has always tried to support human rights organizations such as Amnesty International.
“I think if you have extra money you should do something like that, and I think this is just another way to do it.”
These three local businesses join Blue Lagoon, Whales of Iceland, Landsbankinn, Dohop, Macland, Aurora Reykjavik, Ísey skyr, Núðluskálin, and Seatours as sponsors who help keep GayIceland up and running.
For more information about our sponsors, click here.
