Hate messages mar rainbow flag in Hveragerði during Pride celebrations

In Hveragerði, authorities are working to address hate messages that appeared on a newly painted rainbow flag as part of Pride celebrations. The flag was created on what is known as Rainbow Street, and Mayor Pétur G. Markan expressed disappointment at the hateful messages seen this morning, contrasting them with the positive atmosphere of the evening celebration. He emphasized that human rights are not guaranteed and require active defense.

Pétur noted that the incident serves as a reminder that the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights is ongoing. In response to the hate displayed, the local government plans to promote love and education instead. “We are more united and stronger in the fight against this,” he said, adding that the rainbow flag will be repainted in even larger and brighter colors. This decision was unanimously agreed upon in a town council meeting earlier that day.

There are strong indications of who may be responsible for the incident, but officials choose to focus on combating prejudice more broadly. The police have already surveyed the area and the messaging involved, categorizing it as hate speech. The matter is now under their investigation, and local authorities hope that a strong response will help bring those responsible into the dialogue for human rights advocacy.