Reykjavik Pride’s Rainbow Conference 2024
Thursday 8 August // IÐNÓ
Our Rainbow Conference will be held for the third time on the 8th of August. A diverse selection of panel discussions, presentations and dialogues will provide a platform to further the queer discourse in Iceland. Admission is free and the venue is accessible.
Main Hall // Ground floor
9:45 // PINKWASHING FOR POLITICAL GAIN
Pinkwashing for Political Gain
This event will discuss pinkwashing for political gain, and how this appears in modern society. Examples in recent years include states such as Israel, that like to pain themselves as LGBTQIA+ inclusive – especially now with the ongoing genocide enacted by them in Gaza – despite the reality being very different.
INFORMATION
Panel members:
- Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir hosts.
11:00 // PRIDES IN THE NORTH
Prides in the North
Arctic Pride from Tromsø, Norway, is visiting Reykjavik Pride. Join us for a presentation about our work, how we work in northern Norway, and also how the shooting in Oslo in 2022 has affected the work with queer events. After a presentation from Lars Kaupang, general manager of Arctic Pride, Lars will be joined by Reykjavik Pride’s president Helga Haraldsdóttir in a conversation about how it is to manage a Pride festival in the high north.
INFORMATION
Panel Members:
- Lars Kaupang, manager of Arctic Pride
- Helga Haraldsdóttir, president of Reykjavík Pride
12:45 // QUEER PERFORMANCE ACT
Queer performance art – a talk with artists
Actor Bjarni Snæbjörnsson and director Gréta Kristín Ómarsdóttir are the writers of the show Good Morning, Faggi which ran for two years at The National Theatre and toured Iceland twice. Bjarni recently published the book Mennska where Gréta was one of two editors.
In this event they talk about the creation of the show and book and their learning through the different processes. They go over their goals regarding inclusion snd diversity and share how the arts can be a powerful tool for social change through visibility and storytelling. A good time will be given to questions from the audience.
An autograpehed copy of Mennska will be available for purchase.
Please note that a sound recording of the event will be used on the podcast Mennska.
INFORMATION
Dialogue leads:
- Bjarni Snæbjörnsson
- Gréta Kristín Ómarsdóttir
14:00 // ARE YOU ON PREP OR PROZ? AND WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF?
Are you PrEP or Poz? And what about all the other stuff?
What are gay, bi- and pansexual guys, other queer men and non-binary people, trans people and men who have sex with men (MSM) doing in sex? What can we do to improve sexual health? Can I use PrEP? But what if I‘m HIV positive? How is my health care then? What about the increase in cases of syphilis and gonorrhea? What about the chlamydia. And this HPV thing? Can I get protected against that? We will seek answers to these questions – and some more – and will be joined by great guests who will tell us a little about state of affairs and talk with the public. Participants will include: – Anna Tómasdóttir (she), MSc in Nursing and Control of Infectious Diseases at nurse at Landspítali – University Hospital Iceland – Einar Þór Jónsson (he), Executive Director at HIV Iceland – og Sigurður Ýmir (he), MSc in Nursing and counselor at Samtökin ´78 – The National Queer Organisation Moderated by Hilmar Hildar Magnúsar (he), gay, queer activist and former chair of Samtökin ´78 – The National Queer Organisation. All welcome
INFORMATION
Frummælendur eru:
- Anna Tómasdóttir (hún/she), nurse
- Auður Gunnarsdóttir, (hún/she) medical specialist
- Einar Þór Jónsson (hann/he), CEO of HIV-Ísland
- Sigurður Ýmir (hann/he), nurse and counsellor at Samtökin ’78
- Facilitator: Hilmar Hildar Magnúsar (hann/he), queer activist and former president of Samtökin ’78
Sunnusalur hall // First floor
9:45 // LGBTQIA+
LGBTQIA+
Let’s look at all the different groups under our queer umbrella. We will talk about different gender expressions, sex characteristics, sexual orientations and gender identities and briefly mention language.
INFORMATION
Presenter:
- Edda Sigurðardóttir, Samtökin ’78
11:00 // BDSM: A CHANCE FOR CONNECTION
BDSM: A Chance for Connection
What is BDSM? How can I use BDSM as a way to intimacy? Is BDSM suitable for me?
Representatives from the board of BDSM á Íslandi will hold a presentation in Iðnó that will endeavour to answer these questions and more.
Come and join us in a relaxed environment and celebrate the diversity of Pride.
INFORMATION
Panel Members:
- Margrét Nilsdóttir chairperson of BDSM Iceland,
- Katrín Íris Sigurðardóttir vice-chair of BDSM Iceland,
- Jarred Stancil, board member,
- Kenzie Fincher, deputy board member
12:45 // BEAR 101
BEAR 101
The bear community has been around for a long time. For most of that time we have not been so visible. Stereotypical body images have made us feel more comfortable being less visible. But that also means allot of people don’t really know who we are or what we stand for. What is a bear? Do you have to be a certain way to fit into the bear community? Do bears only like other bears? We would like to set the record… well, you know. The president of Bangsafélagið, the Bears of Iceland, will give a short lecture on where the term “Bear” comes from, how it made its way to Iceland, what the bear community is, what body image means to us and all the other things that make up our community. Later, members of the board as well as other members of the bear community will be available for an open discussion and answer questions that we hope will lead to a deeper understanding and acceptance of greater diversity in all shapes and sizes.
INFORMATION
Facilitator:
- Sigurður J Guðmundsson, chairperson of Bears of Iceland,
14:00 // LET’S MAKE: “LOVE NOT WAR”
Let’s make: “Love not war“
“Let’s Make Love, Not War” is a discussion about pinkwashing, the current war in the Middle East, pathways to peace, and the importance of equal opportunities for peace worldwide. Engage in a thought-provoking dialogue about fostering love, equality, and sustainable peace in our global community.
INFORMATION
Facilitator:
- Alex Benjamin Jørgensen, reporter from Lebanon and project manager at Oslo Pride