Human Rights Prize to Reykjavik Gay Pride
19.6.2011
Human Rights Prize to Reykjavik Gay Pride
On May 16th the mayor of Reykjavik, Jón Gnarr, awarded the city’s Human Rights Prize to Reykjavik Gay Pride at an official cermony, attended by members of the city council, the city’s committee on equal rights as well as members of the Reykjavik Pride. According to the tradition, the prize is anually, after a nomination from the committee on equal rights, either awarded to a person, a group or an organization for an outstanding contribution to the humanitarian cause.
The city council of Reykjavik has a long tradition of an active support to the queer cause, and has been the main sponsor of our festival in August since 2001. Without the generous support of our city council through the years, such a colourful and ambitious Pride event would not have been imaginable. The Human Rights Prize to the Reykjavik Pride is a strong recognition of the queer community in Iceland which has experienced an incredible and rapid change in only thirty years. From being an invisible, oppressed minority, queers in Iceland have now gained social and legal rights comparable to the best of their kind in the world. This is clearly reflected in our celebrations – a true manifestation of our pride and ambition. The Reykjavik Pride 2011 will be held 4–7 August, with a Pride Parade on August 6th .