Legal challenge vs. National Museum of Iceland

Watchdog for rights of same-sex attracted in Iceland

Samtökin 22 is the only organisation exclusively for lesbian, gay and bisexuals in Iceland.

We operate as a «Watchdog for LGB rights Iceland» and argue that the inclusion of gender identity in law and society in general has a devastating effect on children – especially gender non confirming children that often turn out to be homosexuals later in life. We emphasise that homosexuality is same-sex attraction, and that female homosexuality excludes men and male homosexuality excludes women in this matter. Our goal is to protect the dignity and rights of all same-sex attracted people.

The National Queer Organisation at Iceland

We had invited Prof. Wintemute to talk about issues related to human rights for lesbians and gay men in the wake of transgenderism. We also invited the lesbian artist Tonje Gjevjon from Norway to talk about the situation for lesbians/girls/women in Norway where gender identity was included in the hate speech law in 2020. As a result of the queer organisation actions both the National Museum, a government institution and subsequently, also a private foundation cancelled their agreement on housing the conference.

The queer organisation is funded by the parliament and opinionates and preaches that children can be born with a gender identity incompatible with their actual physical body. They also defend irreversible and experimental medical interventions on gender non-conforming children/youth.

The inclusion of gender identity in law has had a divisive effect in all countries where it has been introduced. Gender identity in law effects the freedom of speech, children, youth, parents, gays, bisexuals, lesbians, medicine, academia, our common ground and most of all girls and women. In Iceland the national queer organization attempts to control the debate on LGB issues by silencing and inflicting traceable false accusations of others who disagree with their beliefs. Instead of participating in debates the queer organization are using their power, influence, and employees to shut down any attempt to debate the consequences and actual conflicts the inclusion of gender identity in law and society has on society and in particular kids, youth, homosexuals, and women.

The fact that homosexual women and men are exposed to this kind of damaging and abusive behaviour by a state funded organization in a Nordic country is devastating. But we have seen this before and recognize the manipulative behaviour and attack on same sex attracted women and men. If young lesbians in 2023 use the word lesbian to describe their female homosexual orientation, they are often called hateful transphobes, and that they need to reorientate so they can learn to enjoy male genitals.

This cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. This is why we are launching a legal challenge against the National Museum of Iceland for breaking a contract with our organization, participating, and indulging in libellous activities against us and effectively participating in destroying the event we had planned.

State-founded organisations who use their positions to shut down debate regarding lesbians, gays and bisexuals ought to be held accountable and be investigated for harassment and discrimination of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals and for denying lesbians, gays and bisexuals’ freedom of speech, freedom of assembly.

We will have to exhaust all options in Iceland before proceeding to the European Court of Human Rights, but we will take this case there if need be.

The principle in this case makes it necessary.

When Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, who is the former Prime Minister of Iceland was informed of the situation, he offered to facilitate the conference at The Centre Party´s office. And due to this act, the conference could take place. But the damage had been done. People arrived at different venues, at different times, the production of the event was not of the quality intended for it, it was ignored by most media as they had also been targeted by activists and ended up only having a quarter of the registered participants in attendance.