„If you can’t respect me, you’ve got no business being here.“
– Harvey to his mother in Torch Song Trilogy
Gleðigangan – The Joy Parade
The Icelandic name for the Reykjavík Pride Parade—Gleðigangan—means “The Joy Parade.” It’s no coincidence. Reykjavík Pride is a celebration of pride—something few of us found easily or without struggle. With the parade, we honor the victories won in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights in Iceland and express our heartfelt gratitude to our family and friends for coming aboard and standing with us in full support.
Our visibility is not just symbolic—it’s a lifeline. By showing up and being seen, we offer strength to those who still feel they must hide, those who want to come out but haven’t yet found the safety, the confidence, or the community they need.
When Pride Is Mocked
That’s why it clashes so deeply with the spirit of Gleðigangan when dignity and equality are made into the punchline of a joke.
In recent years, there have been repeated incidents where heterosexual people taking part in bachelor or bachelorette parties have tried to crash the Pride Parade—not to show support, but to make a mockery of it. The intention is not solidarity but humiliation: “Haha, poor guy wandered into the Gay Pride Parade! Maybe he’s gay?!” Videos of this so-called “adventure” are then shown at wedding receptions, greeted with laughter at the expense of the groom or bride.
Show Some Respect
For those marching for human rights and against prejudice, it is unacceptable to be placed beside individuals treating the parade and its participants with such disrespect. Reykjavik Pride is not a stage for mockery, and our pride is not your joke.
We welcome everyone who joins the march in good faith—truly, all are invited. Even the birds on the Pond are welcome to watch, should they feel inclined. But to the unruly bachelors and featherless hens: we kindly ask you to celebrate somewhere else this day.