Bursting With Pride - Some Perspectives On This Year's Parade

Some Perspectives On This Year's Parade

Wow! How awesome was Reykjavík Pride this year? I mean, did you see Páll Óskar’s glittering swan? A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

It is estimated that over 90,000 took to the streets of Reykjavík for Pride 2014, to celebrate diversity and show support for all people. “This year’s Pride was a fabulous mix of celebration, education and a powerful reminder of the work that still needs to be done regarding LGBTQI issues,” says Eva María Þórarinsdóttir Lange, Chair of Reykjavík Pride. “The parade was a meaningful glitter bomb!”

Yup, for this edition of Pride, the sun was shining (thanks for coming out, sun!), spirits were high, and life in Iceland did indeed feel pretty darn glittery.

We took to the streets and met just a few of the many Pride supporters to hear their thoughts on the parade, gayness in Iceland, and their Spirit Divas.

What are your names?

Tom, Boris, Jason, Alex, Max

Where are you from?

The States. Chicago and Atlanta.

What do you do?

We’re students.

Is this your first time in Iceland?

Yup. It’s awesome.

How gay are you on a scale of one to ten? You can interpret the word “gay” however you want.

Zero to one.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Three [pause]. No wait, a five. I was thinking of the Kinsey scale.

What was your favourite thing about the parade?

That guy dancing on top of the goose. Who was he?

Páll Óskar. He’s one of Iceland’s best-known queer icons.

Oh, so like the Elton John of Iceland?

Sure. In three words, describe to me the vibe of Reykjavík today.
[All five speaking at once] Not risqué enough… Too family friendly… Not enough boobs.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

Oh, oh! Who’s that guy who plays Barney in ‘How I Met Your Mother’? He’s gay, right?

Neil Patrick Harris?

Yes! Him. Definitely.

—

What are your names?

Paul and Roland

Where are you from?

Zürich, Switzerland

What do you do?

Paul: Teacher

Roland: Architect

How gay are you on a scale of one to ten? You can interpret the word ”gay” however you want.

Ten.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Twelve

Is this your first Pride in Iceland?

Yes, it’s our first time in Iceland. It was a happy accident that we are here for the parade. This Pride is unlike any we’ve seen before.

What was your favourite thing about the parade?

It’s just as it is. It seems like there’s nothing unusual about being gay here.

In three words, describe to me your feelings about Pride today.

Paul: Happy, touched, impressed.

Roland: Tears in our eyes. No, wait, that’s four words. Ok…Tears in eyes.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

Nina Hagen. She’s a late-‘70s German punk diva!

—

What are your names?

Helena, Jóhanna, Margrét

Where are you from?

Iceland. Reykjavík.

What do you do?

Helena: I work at a school.

Jóhanna: I work in a bakery.

Margrét: IT development

How gay are you on a scale of one to ten? You can interpret the word ”gay” however you want.

Helena and Jóhanna [in unison]: Ten!

Margrét:…uhh…but I’m not a ten.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Five. No, eight. Yes, definitely an eight.

How do you think this Pride compares to previous Prides in Iceland?

It’s a good one, but not the best. There weren’t any balloons.

Balloons?

Yes. They used to send balloons flying into the air after the parade. But I think they stopped because it’s a health hazard or something.

In three words, describe to me the vibe of Reykjavík today.

Happy, proud, freedom.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

Jóhanna [immediately]: Páll Óskar, absolutely [Margrét nods in agreement]!

Helena: I would have to say Sigga Beinteins.

—

What are your names?

Sibylle and Edoardo

Where are you from?

Paris, France and Milan, Italy

What do you do?

Business students

Is this your first time in Iceland? Did you come for Pride?

Yes, it’s our first time. We’ve been here ten days but it was an accident that we were here for the parade.

How do you think this Pride compares to others you may have seen?

It was really different. It had a stronger message than other Prides we’ve been to, and we were surprised by all of the families. This kind of participation would never happen in France or Italy.

How gay are you on a scale of one to ten? You can interpret the word ”gay” however you want.

Sibylle: Four.

Edoardo: No more than a two.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Two-and-a-half? We were here for Pride so I guess it’s a little bit difficult to say how it is on other days.

In three words, describe to me the vibe of Reykjavík today.

Open-minded, lively, crowded.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

Sibylle: Céline Dion. I love her.

Edoardo: Does diva mean it has to be a woman? I don’t know… that’s a really hard question. You choose for me.

—

What are your names?

Sigmundur, Margrét, Sólrún, and Britta

Where are you from?

Reykjavík

What do you do?

We’re students at MH and MR.

How gay are you on a scale of one to ten? You can interpret the word ”gay” however you want.
[Collectively]: Five.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Seven… no, five… no, seven. Yeah, a seven.

How do you think this Pride compares to previous Prides in Iceland?

The weather was really good. We were on a float for Amnesty International and got to hold guns and look sad.

What was your favourite thing about the parade?

Britta: …eating at BSÍ before the parade. But that wasn’t his favourite part [points to Sigmundur].

Why not?

Sigmundur: I threw up.

In three words, describe to me the vibe of Reykjavík today.
[They whisper quietly among themselves for a few seconds]:

Love, human rights… can that count as one word? Happiness.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

Beyoncé. Obviously.

—

What are your names?

Larissa and Adama

Where are you from?

England and Iceland/The Gambia.

What do you do?

Larissa: Conservation work.

Adama: Study anthropology.

How gay are you on a scale of one to ten? You can interpret the word ”gay” however you want.

Larissa: I don’t know, a five?

Adama: Zero.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Larissa: Nine.

Adama: Five.

How do you think this Pride compares to previous Prides in Iceland?

Adama: I’ve been every year but this is the most amazing. It makes me so happy inside.

What was your favourite thing about the parade?

Larissa: The swan, the colours, the amazing rainbow family.

Adama: All the amazing people.

In three words, describe to me the vibe of Reykjavík today.

Both: Rainbow, freedom, love.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

Adama [without hesitation]: Bob Marley [she points to Larissa] and you would be Janis Joplin.

Larissa: No! That’s what everybody says. I want to be a rainbow diva.

—

What is your name?

Eva Dís

Where are you from?

Hafnarfjörður

What do you do?

Work in a bakery.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Hmm. Five?

How do you think this Pride compares to previous Prides in Iceland?

It’s amazing.

What was your favourite thing about the parade?

Páll Óskar!

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

I don’t know any divas. You choose for me.

Adele, maybe?

Yeah!

—

What is your name?

Laila

Where are you from?

Reykjavík, 101

What do you do?

I work in marketing.

How gay are you on a scale of one to ten? You can interpret the word “gay” however you want.

Two.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Six.

How do you think this Pride compares to previous Prides in Iceland?

I loved it. But I liked it better when it was on Laugavegur.

What was your favourite thing about the parade?

The happiness in everybody.

In three words, describe to me the vibe of Reykjavík today.

Smile, colours, happiness.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

—

What are your names?

Alex, Colin, Brynjar

Where are you from?

France, Virginia, but I live here now, Hafnarfjörður.

What do you do?

Student, student, psychologist

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

I mean, compared to Virginia?… Nine.

How do you think this Pride compares to previous Prides in Iceland?

It was really fun. We were on the Q Student float.

What was your favourite thing about the parade?

Getting to be on a float. It was actually better than watching the parade.

In three words, describe to me the vibe of Reykjavík today.

Crowded and surprisingly warm…that’s three words if “and” doesn’t count.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality—your Spirit Diva—who would it be?

Brynjar: I don’t know enough divas and it wouldn’t be accurate.

Alex: Mine would be Blanche from the Golden Girls.

—

What are your names?

Svaný and Sólrún

Where are you from?

Reykjavík

What do you do?

Svaný: I work at the post office.

Sólrún: I work with disabled people.

How do you think this Pride compares to previous Prides in Iceland?

It’s hard to say because we participated in the parade. Maybe it’s getting bigger?

How gay are you on a scale of one to ten? You can interpret the word ”gay” however you want.

Well, right now…probably a seven. I have a boyfriend, but everyone can be gay for a day.

How gay is Iceland on a scale of one to ten?

Well, today in Reykjavík, like a nine. But online some people say bad things. So, Iceland-online is maybe a two, at most. This is why Pride is important. We want Iceland to be super gay!

In three words, describe to me the vibe of Reykjavík today.

Fun, amazing, [long pause], yeah, oh shit, I need a third [another long pause]… FABULOUS! Of course.

If you had to choose one diva to best represent your personality – your Spirit Diva – who would it be?

Svaný: Well, today I’m channeling Russell Brand, can you tell? So, at the moment he is my spirit diva. But, otherwise I’d have to go for Divine from the John Waters movies.

—

Want to see more pictures from Pride? Check out our Reykjavík Pride 2014 In Pictures.