OPINION Ugla Stefanía Reviews 2024
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, like someone once wrote. While I certainly agree, it’s also a time where I tend to look over the year that has just passed and contemplate on what’s happened – because it’s been a lot.
In the past few years there has been a concentrated campaign by conservative and fascist forces against the queer community – which has appeared in almost every corner of our society, from our media, personal social media feeds, politics, schools, in the workplace, within health care, and so on.
And this year was no exception.
The UK and US repeat their horrible history
Across the world we saw setbacks for our community – such as the UK banning puberty blockers for young trans people, directly against expert advice and evidence. The ban itself marks yet another harrowing step in UK’s history and its ill treatment of queer people, and can only be described as a catastrophe for the well-being of young people.
What reveals it most clearly as complete bullocks is that puberty blockers are only banned for young trans people, but not their peers who are not trans – despite the argument being that they are ‘too dangerous’ and we ‘lack research’ (both of which are entirely false).
This year we also saw a man convicted for threatening violence towards Samtökin ‘78 and its staff – alongside other very derogatory comments. In a similar vein, Samtökin ‘78 have also filed charges towards a known anti-trans campaigner for hate speech this year.
They have effectively caused indescribable harm to the future of young trans people, while claiming that they are protecting them. It’s nothing short of gaslighting on a major scale.
Likewise across the US we also saw a continued degradation of queer rights, with some states banning access to gender affirming care, and banning queer books at schools. We also saw the re-election of Donald Trump as President of The United States, which will only mean further restrictions and attacks on our community.
The Curious Case of Imane Khelif
We have also seen an increase in disinformation surrounding queer people, with many major media platforms publishing content without proper research. The most evident case of this was during the Olympics when boxer Imane Khelif was targeted online by the likes of J. K. Rowling and Elon Musk for ‘being a man hitting a woman’, after she defeated Italian boxer Angela Carini in a match.
It was harrowing to watch the entire world jump on this bandwagon and call her either trans or intersex without any independent thought, and almost everyone suddenly had an opinion about Khelif’s life, body or identity. In an instant everyone suddenly became an expert on biology, genealogy and women’s sport – despite having no qualifications or previous interest in any of it.
The only alleged ‘proof’ that people had for it was an inconclusive and vague statement from a disgraced Russian boxing association, which is no longer a governing body on boxing. In press meetings with the organisations they were unable to show any actual evidence of this. It’s therefore worrying that media platforms peddled these untruths.
It was clear that Khelif was targeted because she does not conform to strict and western ideas of femininity, showing quite clearly that this campaign against trans and intersex people has horrible consequences for anyone that doesn’t conform. I did wonder as this happened if the people making the most noise about it had ever even seen women who are professional athletes, as many of them certainly don’t conform to their narrow and oppressive standards of what women are ‘supposed’ to look like.
Here in Iceland we have an opportunity to show quite clearly that we denounce hatred, disinformation and discrimination – and that anti-queer sentiments will be quelled by love, common sense and solidarity with one another.
Iceland: Queer Paradise?
Despite Iceland being at the forefront of queer rights, it should be short-sighted to say things are perfect here. In fact, they are far from it.
In recent years we’ve been an increase in hate speech, violence and disinformation being peddled by the media and people in positions of influence. We’ve also seen an increase in bullying in schools, with our young people describing incidents of hate and discrimination – which goes to show that comprehensive training on these issues has never been more important.
This year we also saw a man convicted for threatening violence towards Samtökin ‘78 and its staff – alongside other very derogatory comments. In a similar vein, Samtökin ‘78 have also filed charges towards a known anti-trans campaigner for hate speech this year, which includes him calling trans people pedophiles. This type of extremism in anti-queer hate is something we haven’t seen for a long time, and it’s deeply troubling.
It has become so severe that during the latest elections in Iceland, a political party actively used anti-trans propaganda as a part of their campaign, which has never been done before in Iceland. While there have been instances of certain politicians having previously described anti-queer sentiments before, this party took it to a new level. They weren’t very successful however, showing quite clearly that anti-queer sentiments are not popular in Iceland at all.
Not All is Lost
But there are also plenty of things to celebrate – as an example, Thailand legalised same-sex marriage, making it the first country in South-East Asia to do so, and Germany passed a landmark law on trans rights, which allows trans people to change their name and gender markers without a medical diagnosis.
Iceland ranked 2nd on ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, which ranks European countries based on their progress on legal rights for queer people. We also currently rank 1st on the Trans Rights Map which is collated by Transgender Europe, which specifically ranks countries based on legal rights for trans people.
This progress has been possible due to the tireless work of individuals and organisations across Iceland, as well as good cooperation with policy makers and politicians.
And despite this backlash, queer culture bloomed in Iceland. Reykjavík Pride saw countless events and activities, including having our newly elected President making a speech in support of our community. The first queer literature festival, Queer Situations, was held in Reykjavík, and the film Ljósvíkingar, where one central character is a trans woman played by a trans woman, came out.
Countless events, conferences and research was done this year, and so many other things I cannot even begin to count. It is clear that the queer community here in Iceland is strong, and this backlash will not affect our spirit and sense of community.
I’m therefore hopeful for 2025, and I know that at least here in Iceland we have an opportunity to show quite clearly that we denounce hatred, disinformation and discrimination – and that anti-queer sentiments will be quelled by love, common sense and solidarity with one another. We all have a part to play in making our society a safer place for us all – whether that’s at our work, at the work Christmas party, or within our own families.
So here’s to 2025, and our continued resistance and fight for a better, safer and more free world for us all.