Planning a rainbow family in The Faroe Islands

While most of the world continues to grapple with questions of masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing, Scott and Snorri Danielson are busy with questions of car seats, baby blankets, and parental leave. The Faroese couple are preparing to have a baby, and their excitement is palpable. “We just had the 3D scan,” Scott says. “It’s amazing and terrifying at the same time.”

Scott, to the left, and Snorri.

Scott and Snorri have been wanting to have a child for years. The couple met in Denmark nine years ago and lived in the UK, where Scott is from, for five years before moving to the Faroe Islands last year.
“We looked into adopting in the UK but as a same sex couple it’s very difficult to do international adoption, because many countries wont allow a same sex couples to adopt,” Scott says. One of the options in the UK was to adopt an older child with significant special needs, but they realized that wouldn’t be practical. “One of us would have had to give up work. And are we ready for that? I’m not sure.”

“It wasn’t really possible,” Snorri says. “I think we went through a bit of a grieving process, a period of saying, ‘We would like a child but we can’t make it work.’ And we tried to redefine ourselves and say, ‘Actually we will just be the two of us and that’s okay’.”

“This is not a political statement, this is having a child.”

The couple continued to live like that until three years ago, when they were talking with a friend in the Faroes about having a child together. “We were just talking generally,” Snorri says. “She was talking about having a child, and after that conversation she contacted us and we started carefully approaching the topic of how something like this would look. We looked at our own values and her values, what we would want and what she would want.”

“It turned out we all pretty much wanted the same thing,” Scott says. The three settled on an arrangement where the couple and their friend would each share half of the childcare responsibilities. “It’s not like she’s going to be more or less a fulltime mother and we’re playing some kind of uncle supporting role, or that she’s having a child like a surrogate for us.”

“It’s quite egalitarian,” Snorri says. “The way I explain it is it’s like a divorce but without the trauma. She’s living just a five minute walk away, so it’s quite doable.”

“It’s a bit more boring than people think,” he adds. “People ask, ‘What does that mean?’ And then they look at the family and the relationships and they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s quite normal.’ ”

Tolerance in the Faroes

As far as Scott and Snorri know, there are no other families quite like theirs currently living in the Faroes. “Somebody has to be the first,” Scott says.

For people in Iceland hearing Scott and Snorri’s story, it may come as a surprise that they are planning to have this queer blended family in the Faroes. For years, the Faroe Islands have been seen by many in Iceland as less progressive and less tolerant than their North Atlantic neighbours. But Scott and Snorri don’t think that’s entirely fair.

“The Faroes have a terrible reputation in Iceland for being kind of homophobic, which isn’t entirely justified. I think it’s a little bit out of date,” Scott says. “The Faroes have changed hugely in recent years, from what I see as an outsider. Marriage equality came in here a few years back and it was supported by the majority of the population. But it still has that reputation for being more homophobic than perhaps it is.”

Snorri grew up on the island of Bordoy, in the north of the country, which he describes as being very isolated. “All you know is within a 20 minute drive, and I think that island mentality shapes you a wee bit because all of a sudden you are completely dependent on everyone around you,” Snorri says. “You do not have the same luxury as you do somewhere else to say, ‘I choose to spend time with you because we have the same interests.’ You have to be a little bit more tolerant in a way.”

“People ask, ‘What does that mean?’ And then they look at the family and the relationships and they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s quite normal.’ ”

“The other side of the island culture is being isolated, which means that the opinions that are formed are very narrow,” he adds. “You are not exposed to people who think differently than you do. It’s essentially a very homogenous society and those social boundaries sort of keep you in check. That means that if the country thinks that homosexuality is outside of the norm or something that’s unknown, all social structures within that society will sort of push people in that direction.”

Snorri says that the benefit of this island culture is that when things start to change, they can change rapidly. “These things that were outside of the norm, all of a sudden people start saying, ‘Well, I actually do not fit into the norm.’ And they start questioning that norm,” Snorri says. “All of a sudden that tolerance of being an island society sort of wins over and says, ‘Well, actually we need to change the norm.’ ”

Not a political statement

The couple are expecting their child in mid-September.

When asked whether they are worried about stigma or negative comments from people in the Faroes, the couple says they aren’t too concerned. “It’s not as daunting as the whole business of just having a child,” Scott says. “That’s the main event here. Other issues of societal prejudice around us are kind of secondary and something that I think we’re both long in the tooth enough to be able to deal with.”

“This is not a political statement, this is having a child,” Snorri adds. “Do I expect in the coming years that I will have some weird conversations? Yeah, I do. I’m very aware that some people might slander or something. But it’s our job to go into that head first and make sure that they are educated in such a way that they do not harm our child. But it’s not a political statement.”

The couple are expecting their child in mid-September, which means right now they’re asking the same questions that every expectant parent asks in the last couple months: Do we have the right car seat? Do we need another blanket? Are we ready to have a child?

“We were having that conversation with the mother the other day,” Scott says. “We had this sudden realization that it’s all going to be okay. If we don’t have this piece of equipment, it doesn’t matter. We’ll go and buy it if we need it.”

“We realize that we’re never going to be ready,” Snorri adds. “We haven’t met this child, and how can you be ready for something you’ve never met?”

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.

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