OPINION Ugla Stefanía reflects on the importance of visibility and Pride across all of Iceland.
When I was growing up, I didn’t even know what Pride was. Growing up at a farm in rural Iceland meant that I lived in a small isolated community, where these things were rarely discussed. At school there was no education about what it meant to be LGBTQIA+, or that people like me even existed.
It wasn’t until I moved away from home that I learned more about people like myself, and the first Pride I ever attended was in 2010 in Reykjavík. I remember the overwhelming emotion of feeling that I finally belonged somewhere, and I had found my community.
Being able to see smaller communities embrace and support us is so vitally important, because the tendency has been that queer people in Iceland eventually move to Reykjavík.
In recent years there has been an increase in Pride events being organised across Iceland – and I’ve had the joy of attending Pride events both in Hrísey and Borgarnes in recent weeks. While these events are a lot smaller than Reykjavík Pride, they are so incredibly important and heart-warming.
Being able to see smaller communities embrace and support us is so vitally important, because the tendency has been that queer people in Iceland eventually move to Reykjavík – partly to find a larger community, and partly because they don’t feel safe or accepted where they are from.
It therefore creates a more open and welcoming environment for everyone when smaller towns host Pride, and sends a strong message of acceptance and acknowledgement. For those who come from those areas, they feel an emboldened sense of Pride and finally feel that they are able to be themselves regardless of where they live.
This means that communities can form in other places, and people aren’t forced to move away from their local communities to find acceptance and love. They can do it amongst their friends and family, and be a part of those communities without having to hide away who they are.
And as someone from north-west Iceland, I do take strength and inspiration from going to smaller Pride events across the country. It lets me know that perhaps one day I can walk the streets of my local area with a sense of Pride and acceptance as well.
So I do hope that my local community will do the same one day, and perhaps paint a rainbow street, or host a Pride event to let people like myself know that we are accepted and welcomed to be who we are, without question.
It creates a more open and welcoming environment for everyone when smaller towns host Pride, and send a strong message of acceptance and acknowledgement. For those who come from those areas, they feel an emboldened sense of Pride.
Because sadly, it still needs to be said and shown. Although Iceland is an accepting country in general, there are still far too many cases of discrimination and prejudice that our community faces – and those can only be addressed and eradicated if we all make a conscious effort to advocate for inclusion and acceptance. Visible support is more important than ever.
I therefore call for more Prides across the entire country, so that no one has to experience that they aren’t welcome in their local community. Everybody should feel embraced and able to be who they are, regardless of where they are from.
If we want to create a safe place for everyone, we need to make that effort. The least different areas and regions can do is to acknowledge us, show support, and make active statements that they support us, and want us to be able to remain in our local communities if we so choose.
Otherwise areas will lose people that can enrich the community and make it a better place for us all.
Because the fact is that we exist everywhere, in every region, town, county and area. We deserve to feel safe and supported.
Here’s to Pride everywhere in Iceland.
Photo: From the left, Hannes Sasi Pálsson, Ugla Stefanía and Magnús Bjarni Gröndal, attending Pride in Hrísey.