Bjarndís Helga Tómasdóttir, formaður Samtakanna ’78, flutti eftirfarandi ræðu á sérstökum fundi Norðurlandaráðs á Arctic Circle ráðstefnunni í Reykjavík 18. október 2024. Fundurinn var haldinn til að ræða flókna tilveru og veruleika hinsegin fólks á norðurslóðum.

Bjarndís (þriðja frá vinstri) ásamt öðrum fyrirlesurum og fundargestum.
I’m truly honoured to be here today – though I must admit it’s also a bit overwhelming. There are just so many pressing issues regarding queer rights and realities in the Arctic that we need to address – much more than we will be able to discuss here today.
In a rapidly changing political landscape I’d like to try to shift our focus just a little – and talk about how we can inspire hope in the world and what each of us—on both individual and governmental levels—can do to work toward light and freedom for all of us.
We’re here today to ask the question, how can we join hands to advocate for the rights of the queer community in the Arctic region – It’s a big question and joining hands is a powerful phrase to be sure – but what does it truly mean in practice?
I’m a strong believer in the power of impactful phrases; the right words can inspire us to achieve remarkable things.
It’s also very easy to get caught up in the allure of powerful language and good intentions, so we must remember that true progress lies in the actions that follow those phrases. It’s about maintaining accountability and ensuring that our enthusiasm for words translates into meaningful actions.
I know – I know – we all know this – but we need to be reminded constantly. Because even though we know, we seem to forget.
So .. To truly join hands, we must consider multiple dimensions simultaneously. – We need to appreciate the big picture without losing sight of the important details. – It’s essential to understand the entire chain of connection, ensuring that no one is left out. – If we fail to see both the broader context – and what the next right steps are, our efforts to unite may end up resembling an abstract AI-generated image of hands—disconnected and unclear.
For us in Iceland, that means focusing on our neighbours, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, as part of the West Nordic community.
In the past couple of years, Samtökin ’78 has made an effort to connect with our sister organizations in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. We’ve invited representatives from those countries to Iceland and have also visited them during Pride celebrations.
We’ve been in personal contact, advising on men and matters (as we say in Iceland) and vice versa. It has been of great value to all, not the least to us in Samtökin.
Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands each present vastly different landscapes in terms of queer rights and social acceptance and I believe we can truly uplift each other in a meaningful way – because we are so different.
Now – – We have already joined hands – how can we continue to join hands? How can we make this joining of hands truly of value to us all? This cannot be done without more resources, without funding, I’m afraid.
Those who know me are aware of my deep passion—almost an obsession—for West Nordic cooperation and dialogue. So when I say I’ve explored every possible avenue known to me to secure funding, it’s not an overstatement, but with very limited success.
In Iceland, we take pride in our standing on queer rights, and rightly so. We rank second on the ILGA Europe Rainbow Map and first on the ILGA Europe Trans Rights Map. A great accomplishment achieved with intention and coo peration between the government and Samtökin.
While being second is commendable compared to many other places, it’s important to remember that we achieved this position with only 83% of ILGA’s goals met. So, while it’s a good start, it’s clear that there is still work to be done.
We are still allowed to be proud, in fact I do encourage the feeling – But we must not forget that with pride comes responsibility. The responsibility involves advocating for those who are still facing challenges – both in Iceland and internationally – ensuring that our progress benefits everyone, and actively working to dismantle discrimination and inequality. It means using our privilege to uplift marginalized voices and create a more inclusive society. It’s about recognizing that our achievements are part of a larger journey toward equality for all.
We are privileged here in Iceland, but just as privileges can be earned— they can be lost. We must not let that happen, rather we should set the standard and keep on holding ourselves accountable. We can do this, for example, by genuinely offering our West Nordic neighbours our support, resources, and ideas. By taking responsibility in this chain of joined hands, we can truly uplift one another.
That is the bare minimum we can do – I think. Because after all, what is someone with all the privileges, no accountability and little to no intention to do good with what they have? I’d say they were in fact a bit of an asshole.
We are living in uncertain times. We are acutely aware that the upcoming elections in America will impact us all, for better or worse. Here in Iceland, we also have elections approaching in just a few weeks, and after seven years of fruitful cooperation, we find ourselves uncertain about what the future holds.
Scary times, I’m afraid.
This is why holding each other accountable—with kindness—joining hands, and upholding our values and remembering – always – our humanity, are the most important things we can do right now.
I’d like to conclude with a request—a plea to each of you, both on an individual level and governmental level. In turbulent times ahead, please remember that you matter, and that all of us matter. Please don’t let fear cloud your vision, remember that courage comes from doing what is right, even when it’s hard and even in the face of fear.
Happiness arises from meaningful actions, and we all deserve that kind of happiness—the kind that comes from advocating for human rights, love, and compassion. The kind that comes from working towards freedom for all.