Tips for Gay and Lesbian Travelers

Iceland was much more homophobic in 1978, when the country's first gay organization was founded in Reykjavík. The small population and close-knit family networks made it difficult for gays and lesbians to escape the disapproval of older generations. Today gay marriages are legal, several prominent cultural figures are openly gay, and gay and lesbian couples walk freely through the streets of Reykjavík. Outside the capital there isn't any gay scene to speak of, but the worst any gay couple is likely to encounter is a frown.

The main gay and lesbian organization in Iceland is Samtökin '78, Laugavegur 3, 4th floor, Reykjavík (tel. 552-7878; www.samtokin78.is), which is open Monday to Friday from 1 to 5pm and holds open-house social gatherings at their Rainbow Cafe Mondays and Thursdays 8 to 11:30pm and Saturdays 9pm to 1am. Iceland's main lesbian organization is Konur með Konum (www.kmk.is), which means "Women with Women." The website posts events and other useful information.

Félag STK Stúdenta (FSS), Pósthússtræti 3-5, Reykjavík (tel. 411-5590; http://gay.mis.is), the gay and lesbian student organization at the University of Iceland, welcomes e-mails from young visitors.

The site www.gayice.is has the best online schedule of gay events. The Reykjavík Gay Pride Festival (www.gaypride.is) usually takes place the first week of August.

In the award-winning documentary film Hrein og Bein (Straight Out), nine gay Icelandic youths tell their coming-out stories.

The following travel guide is also available: GetawayGay Iceland (Queer & There Publishing; www.getawaygay.com).

Organized Tours

Alyson Adventures (tel. 800/825-9766; www.alysonadventures.com), an adventure travel agency based in Key West, FL, has two Iceland trips, one with mountain biking and one with multiple outdoor activities.

Zoom Vacations (tel. 866/966-6822; www.zoomvacations.com) has a 6-night tour based in Reykjavík, with daytime bike excursions.

Great Canadian Travel Company (tel. 800/661-3830; www.iceland-experience.com) has a "gay party weekend tour" from Toronto only.