Trans man wins Mr Reykjavík Bear title at sixth festival

Ormur Guðjónsson won the Mr. Reykjavík Bear title at the sixth Reykjavík Bear festival, according to mbl.is. Sigurður J. Guðmundsson said Guðjónsson may be the first trans man in Europe to receive an award of this kind.

Guðjónsson was chosen from three contestants competing for the title at Austurbæjarbíó on Saturday evening. Karl Óskar finished second and was named Vice Mr. Reykjavík Bear.

The competition and the evening’s entertainment were hosted by drag queen Faye Knús and burlesque performer Broody Valentino. About 250 people attended, Sigurður estimated, with most also taking part in related events.

The four day festival brought together bears, their friends and guests from around the world, with body positivity, solidarity and the freedom to be oneself at its centre. Around 120 international visitors attended, from the Nordic countries and elsewhere in Europe to North America and Saudi Arabia.

The bear community has its roots in gay men’s culture and developed as a space for people who did not identify with prevailing appearance standards. Although the term is often associated with large, bearded or hairy men, Sigurður said the community is more diverse than that stereotype suggests.

The competition was moved to Austurbæjarbíó this year because of high attendance. It had been held in the courtyard of Lemmy’s bar the previous year, but organisers decided they needed a larger venue after filling the space.