Ugla Stefanía Jónsdóttir is a remarkable young transgender activist from Iceland whose tireless work has made a profound impact on the lives of trans people both locally and internationally. As the chair of Trans-Iceland and an active member of multiple LGBTQ organizations, Ugla has dedicated herself to advancing human rights, advocating for trans healthcare access, and challenging the prejudices that trans people face every day. Her work extends beyond Iceland, contributing to international conferences, educational workshops, and collaborative projects across Europe, all with the aim of fostering understanding, solidarity, and inclusion. Ugla’s activism is deeply personal, informed by her own journey as a trans woman and her unwavering commitment to creating a world where everyone can live authentically and safely.
Whether speaking to the media, lecturing in schools, or lobbying for legal reform, she combines courage with compassion, offering guidance and hope to young trans people navigating their own paths. Beyond her advocacy, Ugla is also a creative spirit, exploring new projects from podcasts to music, and even writing her own story, embodying the message that living authentically is both a personal journey and a powerful act of change. In every role she takes on, Ugla Stefanía Jónsdóttir exemplifies the transformative power of visibility, resilience, and love, for oneself and for others. She is not just a voice for trans rights; she is a beacon of possibility, inspiring countless people to believe in a world where everyone’s identity is respected and celebrated.
Monika: Today I have the pleasure and honor of speaking with Ugla Stefanía Jónsdóttir, an inspiring Icelandic transgender rights activist. Hello, Ugla! How are you today?
Ugla: Hello Monika! Thank you for contacting me. I’m honored to be a part of this.
Monika: To start, could you tell us a little about yourself, and what led you to become so active in transgender rights?
Ugla: Well, my name is Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir and I am a young transgender activist from Iceland. I work for several organizations here in Iceland, including the National LGBTQ organization in Iceland, the Q-Association of Queer Students in Iceland, and I lead Trans-Iceland, which is the main organization for trans people in Iceland. I am very passionate when it comes to human rights, and I am starting my master’s degree in gender studies in January at the University of Iceland.
Monika: You’ve been involved in so many initiatives for the transgender community. Could you share some of the projects or events you’ve helped organize, and perhaps a moment that felt particularly meaningful to you?
Ugla: I’d hardly consider myself a champion, but I have indeed taken part in, and sometimes organized, many events and conferences related to transgender rights and LGBTQ rights in general. As the chair of Trans-Iceland, I have organized Transgender Day of Remembrance in Iceland for several years. I have also been a public spokesperson in Iceland for trans people, and I have been very public in the media for the past few years.
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| Photo by Móa Hjartadóttir. |
Monika: You’ve mentioned working with international organizations. Could you tell us more about your involvement with groups like IGLYO and ANSO, and the kind of work you’ve done there?
Ugla: I have also taken an active part in organizations such as IGLYO and ANSO, where I have participated and, in some cases, been on prep teams for different conferences focusing on various topics, including transphobic bullying in schools, intersectionality, and LGBTQ issues in the legal sphere. I have also been involved in the No Hate Speech Movement within the Council of Europe, where I have publicly spoken about my experiences of hate speech as a trans woman.
Monika: That sounds like intensive work on a broad range of issues. Beyond international activism, have you also engaged in education and awareness campaigns within Iceland?
Ugla: Additionally, I have given many lectures about trans issues in Iceland as part of my work as the educational officer of Samtökin 78, the National LGBTQ organization of Iceland. I have also traveled abroad to conduct expert workshops, lectures, and other initiatives on the subject.
Monika: You recently attended a transgender conference in Lithuania. How crucial would you say networking is for transgender activism, and what impact does it have on both personal and collective advocacy?
Ugla: Recently, LGL, the LGBT organization in Lithuania, has been hosting actions and campaigns to raise awareness about LGBT rights in their country. As part of this awareness-raising, there was a joint project between the Q-Association of Queer Students and LGL, where they invited me, along with representatives from Transgender Europe, to host workshops and training sessions on transgender issues for LGL and other organizations. In connection with that, I was also interviewed by the media in Lithuania, and the interview aired on national television. We hope this highlights the importance of giving trans people access to the healthcare they need and deserve.
Monika: Could you describe the broader situation for trans people in Lithuania, and why networking among activists matters so much there?
The situation for trans people in Lithuania is extremely difficult, with essentially no access to healthcare. It is crucial for activists to network with one another, forming connections and support systems, both to collaborate effectively and to gain ideas and inspiration. There is nothing worse than feeling alone, a feeling I think most trans people have experienced at some point in their lives. Networking, reaching out, and supporting each other is vital for all activists and, frankly, for people in general. A sense of solidarity and shared purpose is incredibly valuable.
Monika: Across Europe, there are many organizations and programs addressing the needs of the transgender community. Which needs do you think can be addressed relatively soon, and which challenges might take longer to overcome?
Ugla: I believe the most urgent priority is making healthcare inclusive and accessible for trans people worldwide. This is an ongoing struggle, and I think it will take a long time before trans people have adequate access to healthcare in most places. Trans people are an incredibly diverse and vulnerable group with many different needs. Research has shown that trans people, particularly young trans people, are often targets of violence and hate crimes globally. They are also among the most vulnerable groups when it comes to suicide, especially when they do not have access to the healthcare they require and deserve.
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| The Reykjavik Pride annual publication. Photo by Guðmundur Davíð Terrasaz. |
Monika: Let’s talk about prejudice and misconceptions. What kinds of false ideas about trans people are most common, and how do they show up in society and the media?
Ugla: There is, of course, the ongoing fight against prejudice, misconceptions, and the language used to describe trans people. Many false ideas about trans people are reinforced by society and the media. This is visible in how trans people are presented, talked about, and portrayed. They are often seen as mentally unstable individuals in need of a “cure,” and their gender identity is dismissed as a figment of imagination.
Monika: How do these misconceptions affect people’s daily lives?
Ugla: People often refuse to acknowledge their true identities and insist that trans people will always be the sex assigned at birth. This leads to repeated use of wrong pronouns, misgendering, and transphobic slurs. These prejudices contribute to medicalization and societal marginalization, leaving some trans people homeless or pushed into survival strategies such as sex work. These are issues that society must recognize and actively combat. Across the world, trans people face extreme marginalization, and their basic human rights are ignored in far too many places.
Monika: The statistics must be alarming.
Ugla: According to Transgender Europe, close to 1,400 trans people have been murdered because of their gender identity (excluding this year’s numbers), not even counting other violent crimes or suicides. This is a crisis that must be addressed and stopped.
Monika: Turning to Iceland, how would you describe the current situation for transgender women in society here? Are there areas where we’ve made progress, and where do challenges still remain?
Ugla: For trans women, and trans people in general, we have made considerable progress in many areas. Laws exist that allow trans people to undergo a transition within the healthcare system, and trans people are legally protected against public discrimination under Icelandic law. However, the laws are still very binary, recognizing only men and women and not other gender identities. Additionally, people must be diagnosed with “kynáttunarvandi,” equivalent to “gender identity disorder,” in order to receive gender reassignment and legal recognition, meaning trans people need to be diagnosed and treated by healthcare professionals to access these rights.
Monika: Beyond the legal framework, how is life for trans people socially? Are there particular challenges or successes you’ve noticed in recent years?
Ugla: On a social level, prejudice and hate crimes remain a serious concern. Recently, a trans person was attacked at a bar simply for using the bathroom, highlighting ongoing risks. Still, much has changed in recent years thanks to outspoken advocates raising awareness about transgender issues. Awareness is gradually increasing, language is improving, and the media is beginning to cooperate more closely with our community. Overall, living as a trans person in Iceland is, in many ways, easier than in countries with no legal or social recognition. But progress does not mean the absence of challenges, we still have work to do, both legally and socially.
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| Photo by Móa Hjartadóttir. |
Monika: At what age did you begin your transition to a woman, and looking back, would you say it was a difficult journey?
Ugla: I was 18 years old when I began my official transition. I was relatively young, and at the time, I was the youngest person in Iceland to start a transition. Since then, many young people have stepped forward as well. Like for everyone, it was difficult, but for me, the hardest part was actually before I started my transition. Taking that first step was the most challenging. Once I decided to begin, life somehow became easier, more natural, and I finally felt as if I was doing something right with my life. I always had a clear idea of where I was heading, so the process itself was not as hard as I had feared. Of course, there were emotional moments and difficult challenges that come with such a huge life change, but I feel very lucky and privileged to have had amazing friends and family supporting me. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I owe them so much.
Monika: During that time, did you have any transgender role models you looked up to?
Ugla: Not really. I don’t remember having anyone specific. There were very few people publicly out as transgender in Iceland at that time. I remember only one woman, who was much older than me. I met with her, and she gave me some inspiration, but as a younger person, I mostly had to find my own path. I decided to become my own role model and carve out my own way in the world. I agree with one of my favorite trans people, Laverne Cox, who prefers the term “possibility-model” over “role model.” People can inspire you and give hope, but ultimately, everyone should strive to be their own person, which is what I did when I came out.
Monika: What was the most challenging aspect of coming out for you?
Ugla: There were many challenges. For me, actually telling my parents and close family was really hard, not because I feared a negative response, but simply because it was difficult to say those words. Accepting myself and being able to acknowledge that it was okay to be me was a big step. I didn’t always have the words to explain myself, and finding the right way to express my identity was very challenging. I also worried about how others would react, and I was concerned that people would confuse my gender identity with sexuality, which many did. So, finally being able to express myself openly was a step I found particularly difficult.
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| Photo by Móa Hjartadóttir. |
Monika: I recently came across stories about transgender or gender-fluid characters in Viking mythology. Some Norse gods could change gender at will, like Loki, the trickster god, who often disguised himself as a woman. How do you feel about the way transgender stories or characters have been represented in Scandinavian films, newspapers, or books so far?
Ugla: In the case of Loki, once he changed into a female form, it was always for some trick or for a short time, so no one really saw him as anything beyond a trickster. I also remember stories about the thunder god Þór dressing as a woman as a disguise. I doubt either of them would be described as transgender in the modern sense, but it is definitely interesting to see such genderbending in such ancient stories.
Monika: That’s fascinating! And looking at modern media, how well do you think trans people are portrayed today in films, newspapers, or books? Are there common patterns or stereotypes you notice?
Ugla: I think trans people are often portrayed in very stereotypical ways. In films and newspapers, the focus often seems to be on their genitals rather than their daily experiences. This happens all over the world. The attention shifts away from the real issues they face, discrimination, lack of legislation, limited access to healthcare, and more. Of course, there are some really good books and stories about trans people, but the way the media often portrays them is still very problematic.
END OF PART 1
All the photos: courtesy of Ugla Stefanía Jónsdóttir.
© 2014 - Monika Kowalska
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