samtökin 78′
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Grapevine Events: So Many Concerts, Graduation Showcase, Spicy Challenge
18°. 18°?! If you own a pair of shorts, now’s your (only) chance. We’ve got some hot recommendations for you to hit as you stroll around town barelegged. Tonight there’s Smátíðni 3 at 12 Tónar at 19:00, the fundraising concert series for…
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Iceland Foreign Ministry Publishes Travel Advisory For LGBTQ+ People
The Foreign Ministry has published a travel advisory aimed at LGBTQ+ people, encouraging travellers to be mindful of the attitudes found in other countries. Compared to Iceland, views towards queer identities are different in other parts of the world, the ministry states,…
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Samtökin ’78 Receive A Surge Of Requests From Americans
Iceland’s national queer association Samtökin ’78 have received a surge of requests from American queer people since Donald Trump was elected president, asking for information on how to relocate to Iceland. Many think their safety is threatened due to the Trump administration’s…
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Iceland Ranks Second Place The Rainbow Map
The European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) recently increased Iceland’s ranking on their annual Rainbow Map. ILGA-Europe ranks 49 European countries on a scale of 0% to 100%, depending on each country’s performance in LGBTQI…
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Connecting Queer People
The growing popularity of Samtökin ‘78’s youth clubs Headquartered in the office and cultural centre at Suðurgata 3, Samtökin ‘78 operates an active network of social clubs and services aimed towards LGBTQ+ people. As the national queer organisation of Iceland, its operations span…
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Bound By All Things Kinky
Exploring BDSM in Iceland and how it fits into the larger queer community What is BDSM? Typically considered sexual preferences and practices that include elements of control, submission or pain, it stands for bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism. It’s kink, it’s control,…
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LGBTQ+ Refugees Not Granted Asylum In Iceland
A gay refugee from Venezuela says the Icelandic government has not granted her asylum despite the fact that being LGBTQ+ in her home country very often leads to political persecution. [su_pullquote]A goodie bag filled with perfect road trip companions now for sale…
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Rainbow Flag Vandalism At Church Is Part Of Larger Setback In Struggle For LGBTQ+ Rights
The rainbow flag painted in front of Grafarvogur Church has been vandalised again, according to a post on the church’s Facebook page. [su_pullquote]We are having a summer sale on all our Icelandic soaps, scrubs, face masks, perfumes and more! These are all…
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Lay-Offs At National Queer Organisation “A Precautionary Measure” Pending New Contracts
All four paid employees of the National Queer Organisation have been laid off, Vísir reports. This is due to contracts with both the national government and Reykjavík City running out at the end of this year, and a new contract currently not…
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Government Implored To Provide Support For Trans Youth, In Accordance With The Law
Despite the fact that there has been highly increased demand from trans youth for trans health care services at the Child and Youth Ward (BUGL) at Landspítali hospital, the trans team at BUGL was disbanded earlier this month, Vísir reports. This decision…
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Transgender Day Of Remembrance Honoured In Iceland Today
Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, when people around the world honour the memories of those who have been murdered simply for being trans, and Icelanders will be amongst the people taking part in this solemn occasion. According to available data,…
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Icelandic Queer Rights Groups Met With US Embassy Over Anti-Trans & Intersex Memo
Four queer rights groups met with the US embassy in Iceland about a memo recently issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that aims to greatly limit the definition of sex, in addition to calling upon the Icelandic…
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Icelandic Queer Rights Groups Release Joint Statement On New US Anti-Trans & Intersex Memo
In response to a memo recently issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), four queer rights groups in Iceland have issued a joint statement condemning the government’s attempt at ignoring decades of scientific consensus and erasing the existence…
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The March Of Progress: The National Queer Organisation Turns 40
Samtökin ‘78 (literally “the ‘78 organisation”, with its official English name being The National Queer Organisation) celebrated its 40th anniversary on June 23 (although the actual founding date is May 9). While the organisation is virtually unheard of outside of Iceland, it…
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The Struggle Continues: Iceland’s Chequered History Of Gay Rights
Hörður Torfason is a musician and an activist. He was the first public figures to come out of the closet in Iceland back in the ‘70s and was the founder of The National Queer Organisation, Samtökin 78. Arguably no one is a…
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National Queer Organisation Offers Christmas Dinner To Those In Need
The National Queer Organization will, on Christmas Eve, be offering a free holiday dinner to those in need – wherever they may hail from. “People can always find themselves in the situation that they don’t have anywhere to celebrate the holidays,” National…
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Protest At Interior Ministry
About 60 people gathered at the Ministry of the Interior to protest the impending deportation of three asylum seekers. Minister of the Interior Ólöf Nordal was not present, but ministry staff accepted written statements from involved parties. As reported, Christian Kwaku Boadi…
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Foreigners Welcome At Queer Organisation Open House Tonight
Samtökin ’78, the national queer organisation, has an open house every Thursday. Tonight people of foreign origin are encouraged to show up for some coffee and a nice chat. “It’s an open house event, where we welcome everyone to share their perspectives…
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Police Will Investigate Hate Speech Charges
The State Prosecutor’s office has given the green light to capital area police to investigate instances of hate speech against the queer community. RÚV reports that the National Queer Organisation (Samtökin ’78) welcomed the news, as investigations will now soon be launched…
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Education Board Updates Sex Ed To Reflect Diversity
Hafnafjörður Education Board has decided to join forces with Iceland’s National Queer Organization, Samtökin ‘78, to update the sex education curriculum in schools to reflect more diverse sexualities, reports RÚV. Earlier this year, when the proposal was brought to Hafnafjörður Town Council…
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Refusing Your Rights With A Clean Conscience
In recent weeks, a matter of contention has come up between Samtökin 78, The National Queer Organisation, and the National Church. While the two generally coexist with little friction, a clause in supplemental documents to the 2010 marriage laws (that changed the…
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National Queer Organisation Seeking Enforcement Of Hate Speech Law
The National Queer Organisation (Samtökin ’78) has harshly criticised police for not enforcing Iceland’s hate speech law, and intend to go to the State Prosecutor to see that charges are filed. Last April, Samtökin ’78 filed charges against ten individuals for hateful…
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National Queer Organisation May Take National Church To Court
The National Queer Organisation is considering taking the national church to court over a so-called “freedom of conscience” exemption for ministers to not marry same-sex couples. One minister has already come forward, calling the exemption “nonsense” and saying “religion does not trump…