Sexotic others and nordic exceptionalism: Racialized desire in Icelandic queer media (1982–2000)

This article examines how Icelandic gay and lesbian publications (1982–2000) constructed Nordic exceptionalism through sexualized representations of non-Western others. Drawing on historical discourse analysis of 33 issues published by Samtökin ’78 (The Icelandic Gay and Lesbian Association), the study focuses on visual and textual narratives that combined global gay solidarity with colonial tropes of racialized desire. These discourses positioned Iceland as progressive and tolerant while fetishizing the “sexotic” other, reinforcing binaries of modernity versus tradition. The findings reveal how early Icelandic queer media contributed to constructing a national identity rooted in exceptionalism, using sexual politics as a marker of modernity and superiority. This dual process of inclusion and exclusion demonstrates how sexuality discourses can perpetuate racial hierarchies and neo-colonial ideologies. By situating these representations within Iceland’s socio-historical context, the article advances critical debates on queer exceptionalism, racialization, and the coloniality of power in Nordic settings. It calls for intersectional and decolonial approaches to queer history and media analysis to challenge dominant narratives and promote more equitable understandings of sexuality and belonging.