Meet Eva Jóa, one of the organizers of Reykjavik Pride.
On June 28th, 1969 the Stonewall Riots kicked off a larger gay rights movement in the USA.
In 1970, the first gay pride marches took place in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago – today pride parades are taking place all around the world.
In 2018, I wanted to know who the people organizing today’s pride parades are, what the marches mean to them, and met wonderfully powerful, loving and kind people from places, which might not be the first ones that come to mind, when we think of queer love.
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Since when have you been involved with Reykjavík Pride? I’ve been involved in organizing the Reykjavík Pride Parade since 2010 and became head of security in 2011.
Why do you think Reykjavík Pride is important? I think Reykjavík Pride is important because the fight isn’t over. Socially we might be one of the most accepting countries, but our laws have us beaten.
What is one (or two) remarkable thing(s) that has/have happened at Reykjavík Pride? Páll Óskar is a famous gay singer and performer here in Iceland and every year he participates he goes all out. The last time he participated his team was way behind schedule for his float, the unicorn, to be ready so he sent out a Facebook alert asking people to help him so he could make it. About 40 strangers came together from all over and helped him, and he just made it in time. I found that remarkable.
What do you do when you are not organizing Reykjavík Pride? When I am not organizing Reykjavík Pride I am in school studying to become a teacher and working part-time at a nursing home.
What do you like to do in your free time? When I’m not studying or working I read, hang out with friends and family, catch up on my episodes and watch soccer. I’m a huge DC Comics, Marvel, Buffy, Angel, Harry Potter and Friends nerd, so any time I get to watch, read or talk about any of those I’m good.
Is there something you would like to say to the rest of the LGBT+ community? Just be yourselves, there’s no better way to live your life.
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Not different, just love
How do you feel when it comes to dealing with our emotions, expectations and responsibilities, around coming out, living as a LGBTIQ+ person and when it comes to our families and love in general?
