Date:         Thu, 20 Jun 1996 19:36:27 +0200
From: Bjoern Skolander <skolander@bahnhof.se>
Subject:      President of Iceland Attends Partnership Celebrations

SAMTOEKIN '78
ICELAND

Reykjavik June 19, 1996

You asked for information on the first same-sex weddings. As far as we know
only two couples are getting married on the 27th of June. Of course there
may be others, but some people of course want to have it private and do not
want to make public attention. We know that on the first days after the law
takes value there are ten or twenty couples getting married. But only these
first two couples (one female and one male couple) have accepted Samtoekin's
invitation to attend a big reception at Borgarleikhusid (The City Theatre)
later that day. We are proud to inform that the Icelandic president fru
Vigdis Finnbogadottir will be attending the reception and that will be one
of her latest jobs as a president since we are having presidential elections
on the 29th of June.

The new law and the gay pride 1996 will be celebrated in this way:

On midnight 26/27th of June: A midnight mass at the Frikirkja (The free
(independent?) church, not a member of the national church).

27th of June, 18.00-20.00: Samtoekin '78 invites to a reception at the City
Theatre (Borgarleikhusid). A guest of honour will be the president of
Iceland fru Vigdis Finnbogadottir. The first gay newly-wed couples will be
present to cut a king size wedding cake and accept the congratulations.

20.00-?: An opening of an art exhibition at the gay bar "22" Laugavegur 22.
The exhibition is called "one of each ten" and contains the works of nine
gay artists and one straight. Fun and dancing through the evening.

28th of June 20.00-03.00: A dinner and festival out in the country. A bus
from Lindargata 49 at 20.00 a'clock to a gala dinner at a good restaurant in
Keflavik and then a wild party in Hafnir until 03.00 in the night. A bus
back to Reykjavik.

29th of June 14.00-17.00: A open house and grill at Lindargata 49
(presidential elections this evening).

Of course we encourage gay people from all the world to come and celebrate
this unique event with us.

Best regards from Iceland,

Lilja
Samtoekin '78 spokeswoman