Recently U.S. Vice President Mike Pence received a pretty fun and colorful welcome on his trip to Iceland.
A row of rainbow flags was flapping in the wind just across the street from where Pence met with Iceland President Gudni Johannesson at Hofdi House in the capital Reykjavik. The technology company Advania changed their own flags for the Pride ones before his visit.
“We just felt the need to celebrate diversity today and wanted to show that by flying the flags,” said Ægir Már Þórisson, Advania’s director.
Also nearby, the Efling Trade Union Center changed its flags to Pride one. The theme continued into the visit. Johannesson and Iceland’s first lady, Eliza Reid, both wore rainbow bracelets during the meeting.
Here’s a great example of why I’m proud to be from Iceland 🇮🇸Mike Pence is visiting the country and everyone is outraged. Mayor of Reykjavik, all the biggest firms and companies, everyone, they’re all flying the gay flag. All Pence will see everywhere on his visit is gay gay gay. pic.twitter.com/XemgBk7TjU
— Heklina (@Heklina) September 4, 2019
Pence, a conservative Christian, has opposed same-sex marriage and once said it was a sign of “societal collapse.” He also opposed the repeal of the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the past.
He spoke at the openly anti-LGBTQ Family Research Council’s annual conference in 2018, and as Governor of Indiana, signed a bill into law that allowed people to discriminate against the LGBTQ community under the guise of religious freedom.
On the contrary, Iceland is one of the most pro-LGBTQ countries in the world. It allows any two people to marry regardless of sex or gender and the Church of Iceland also allows same-sex marriage in its churches.
So America’s bigot Mike Pence has arrived here in my country, and what does Iceland do? Welcomes him with Pride flags 😂🙌 pic.twitter.com/OJZjp0aE1s
— ★natasja★ (@miss_menorah) September 4, 2019
Over 20 years ago, Iceland made it illegal to refuse people, goods, or services on account of their sexual orientation, or to attack a person or group of people publicly with mockery, defamation, abuse, or threats because of their sexual orientation.
