Dignity for All: Building a Culture of Human Rights
October 2008
Banner photo: © Carr Clifton
Celebrating Diversity in Iceland
On August 9, SGI-Iceland participated in a gay pride event in Reykjav¡k, a major annual celebration during Iceland's week of diversity. Some 40 SGI-Iceland members participated in this event, including six members from SGI's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) groups from various European countries, wearing handmade T-shirts with the words "We Cherish Diversity" written on them in Icelandic.
Close to 100,000 people--one-third of Iceland's population--participated in or attended the parade itself, which has become Iceland's biggest family festival. As gays and lesbians in Iceland enjoy equal rights, the parade, rather than being a demonstration, is a general celebration of diversity and a stand against all forms of prejudice that is attended by families and children. SGI-Iceland young men's division representative Haukur Gu∂mundsson's interview with Iceland's national TV station, highlighting SGI's involvement in the parade, was broadcast on the evening news.
