Reykjavik’s Mayor Drag Affair

August 11, 2010

The mayor of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, opened Pride festivities dressed in drag.

Jon Gnarr, who is a comedian and actor, donned a floral dress, red lipstick and a blond wig to kick of pride celebrations in what is likely one of the world’s most tolerant countries regarding homosexuality.

Iceland Pride 2006 - Gay Couple Just Married

He told the crowds: "I am here in the absence of Mayor Gnarr as he is too busy to attend. I wonder if he is still in Moomin Valley [where Gnarr recently visited in Finland].

"This is what happens when the people elect a clown as a major."

After forming his own party, the Best Party, Gnarr was elected mayor after mass discontent with politicians’ handling of the economic crisis in 2008 which saw Iceland’s economy crash.

For the pride march over the weekend, an estimated 50,000 people attended, the biggest ever for a parade since marches began in the 1990s.

Iceland became the first country in the world to elect an openly gay leader. Johanna Sigurdardottir was elected last year after a coalition with another leg-wing party.

Sigurdardottir married her longtime partner in June after the country legalized same-sex marriage.

Iceland is one of several countries in Europe to have legalized gay marriage. The most recent include Portugal, Sweden, and Norway.