Trans Iceland Receives Half Million ISK Grant

Trans Ísland, Iceland’s trans rights advocacy organisation, was awarded a 500,000 ISK grant from the Gunnar Thoroddsen Memorial Fund, the City of Reykjavík has announced.

Trans Ísland was awarded the grant yesterday at the historic Höfði house in Reykjavík, in honour of their hard work and dedication for the betterment of trans rights in Iceland. Since their inception in 2007, they have not only been very active in educating the general public on trans issues, but have also been actively involved in legislation which expands the rights of trans people in Iceland.

Perhaps the most significant example of this legislative work was in the crafting of the gender determination law which was passed last June. This law, the creation of which Trans Ísland played an active part, removed many of the road blocks trans people had previously faced in terms of access to trans-related health care, changing of legal name and gender marker, and more.

Nonetheless, trans people—in Iceland as in the rest of the world—still face considerable prejudice and discrimination, and the awarding of this grant will go towards the organisation being able to continue their work in fighting against bigotry.

The Gunnar Thoroddsen Memorial Fund was established in 1985 by Benta and Valgarð Briem on the 75th anniversary of the birth of Gunnar Thoroddsen, a life-long politician for both Reykjavík City and Parliament. The purpose of the fund, which is maintained by the City of Reykjavík, is to provide support for individuals and organisations doing work in the fields of humanitarianism, health and culture.