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The Reykjavík Grapevine

@rvkgrapevine

Anyway, now, some 15 years later, we have a huge event called Gay Pride and it has become the third largest event in Iceland with some 20 to 30 thousand people attending every year. And that’s a lot for a Gay event in a society that numbers less than 300.000. Even the big European cities would be happy to have an event of this size! But this is Iceland. And this year’s event will definitely not be an exception. When listing the artists performing, it becomes clear that we have many outstanding performers. And this year, as in previous years, some foreign artists will join the local performers as well and put on a great show. They know how to do it!

This year’s Pride starts with an opening ceremony on Friday August 6th with the Gay theater group‘Vanity’ performing as well as the Drag Queen ‘Heklina’ and friends from San Francisco. Heklina is half Icelandic, naming herself after the Icelandic volcano ‘Hekla’. The Icelandic gay star Maríus will debut with his orchestra and afterwards there is a Pride Party all night long. But the big event takes place the day after when the Pride Parade will march down Laugavegur to the city centre where a huge outdoor Concert takes place.

Gay Pride has definitely become one of the most important event for Icelandic gay people. But it is also an important event for our friends and families and everyone else who wants to show solidarity with gay people in Iceland and everywhere else in the world. Proud everywhere – pride for everyone. For more Information about gay pride visit www.this.is/gaypride and for more information about gay Iceland visit www.gayice.is

Gay bars and clubs in Reykjavik:

Cafe Cozý (Austurstræti 3, city center) is a friendly gay cafe in the city center. Relaxed atmosphere and a good place for lunch and mingling.

Gay Community Center (Samtokin 78) Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings there is an open house . An excellent place to mingle with local gay people before hitting the bars and clubs.

MSC Iceland (Bankastræti 11) is a social club for gay men into leather, rubber, uniforms and jeans; the heart of the leather scene in Iceland.

Club Jón Forseti (Aðalstræti 10)Gay bar and nightclub in Reykjavik´s oldest house. Bar open all week, night club open during weekends. Drag Cabaret every Saturday night.