From seminars on Belarus to serenades over Danish sandwiches, and with photography from Berlin and a massive flag waving parade thrown in as well, it must surely mean Reykjavik is celebrating Gay Pride once again.
Reykjavik seems to be gaining colour by the hour, as more and more shops, bars and restaurants put out the rainbow flags for Reykjavik Gay Pride – by the weekend, the whole town will pretty much resemble one big rainbow.
With several events lined up for Wednesday, including a drag contest and various talks and seminars, Reykjavik Gay Pride fever will already be in the air by the time the official opening party kicks off on Thursday evening at Reykjavik’s University Cinema.
Saturday’s parade through the city will bring much of the city to a standstill, as tens of thousands of spectators line the streets to watch the vibrant parade that is the focal point of the whole Gay Pride weekend.
The parade is a huge public event where people of all ages and persuasions come together to support gay rights and human rights in general. But with such an exciting and colourful parade, followed by a massive free outdoor concert, doing so is hardly a chore…
Reykjavik gay Pride organisers dub the event “the biggest little pride in the world”. And with around 70,000 attendees, it is indeed small compared to Los Angeles or Europride; but in a country of just 310,000 people, Reykjavik Gay Pride is Iceland’s second biggest annual event.
In 2008, Reykjavik Gay Pride looks set to be the biggest party yet, largely because this year is the 30th anniversary of the Icelandic LGBT organisation, Samtokin 78.
Since 1999 Reykjavik has held a gay pride event in celebration of Iceland’s ‘gay revolution’. In just 30 years since the formation of Samtokin 78, Iceland’s LGBT community has gone from being a persecuted and almost invisible group to having some of the most progressive social and legal rights in the world.
For more information on Reykjavik Gay Pride 2008 and other future events in Reykjavik, visit www.visitreykjavik.is
Wonderful, or should I say faaaabulous! Looks like it was a fun event!
Agreed, well done on them for having the courage to be loud and proud!