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Mike Pence Greeted by Pride Flags During Iceland Visit

News Activism
by Eben Diskin Sep 6, 2019

Upon his arrival in Iceland this week, US Vice President Mike Pence was met by a row of rainbow flags and an Icelandic president, sporting a rainbow bracelet.

The vice president, well known for his less-than-progressive views on LGBT rights, was in Iceland for a meeting with president Guðni Jóhannesson at the Höfði House in Reykjavík. The flags were the work of the company (Advania) occupying the building across the street.

According to the Icelandic news website Monitor, Advania decided to change its flags the morning of Pence’s arrival. Ægir Már Þórisson, the company’s director, said, “We just felt the need to celebrate diversity today and wanted to show that by flying the flags.”

The headquarters of the Efling trade union, in a nearby office building, similarly flew Pride flags that same day.

Pence, known for being a very conservative Christian, has been criticized for opposing same-sex marriage and supporting gay conversion therapy.

This isn’t the first time Iceland’s president has worn a Pride bracelet to greet a world leader. He also did it when meeting Russian Vladimir Putin, who has also supported anti-LGBT laws.

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