You are gay, lesbian or bisexual. For some people it is already clear at the age of thirteen, for others it may take a little longer. It will also be more difficult for some people than others to come out. Fortunately, it is no longer that difficult for most LGBT people (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) in the Netherlands to come out of the closet. Of course you still hear stories about families, for example, where gays cannot easily come out about their orientation, but the Netherlands is far ahead in terms of acceptance of gays. Legally speaking, the Netherlands is a very “gay-loving” country. Anyway, you’ve come out of the closet, your family and friends are all happy and fine with it. And then? This article contains some facts and figures.
Gay rights in the Netherlands
Since the end of the 19th century, a wave of gay emancipation has been taking place in the Netherlands. In the 1960s, gay emancipation was about obtaining equal rights. Two important milestones in the history of gay emancipation in the Netherlands were:
- the introduction of the General Equal Treatment Act in 1933. This made discrimination against homosexuals punishable. This applies, for example, to job applications and admission to associations.
- the opening of civil marriage to same-sex couples in 2001. The Netherlands was the first country to allow gay marriage. In the Netherlands there is no specific gay marriage, but marriage applies to both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Same-sex couples have also been able to adopt children since 2001.
Today , gay emancipation is still an important topic in politics. LGBT people still do not have the same rights as heterosexuals. The government is trying to eliminate this gap. A few examples of recent changes:
- The position of lesbian parents is greatly improved. The Lesbian Parenting Bill gives children who grew up with a same-sex couple the same rights as children who grew up with heterosexual parents.
- Violence against homosexuals and transgender people is punished more severely. Since June 1, 2011, the Public Prosecution Service has been demanding double penalties for incidents of violence as a result of discrimination.
- The government wants to put an end to ‘refusing civil servants’ (people who do not want to perform gay marriages) and the refusal of homosexual teachers and students.
To date
It is a little more difficult for homosexuals to meet the right one. After all, our orientation is not written on our foreheads and unfortunately the human brain does not have a so-called gaydar (radar to recognize gays). Yet there are many roads that can lead to that one nice man or woman. Below is a brief overview:
Gay bar
First of all, you can go to a gay bar, just like straight people go to the pub to meet people. A drink to loosen up and off you go, on the decorating tour. However, there is a reasonable chance that there will be a certain type of people in the gay bar. This of course depends on the bar and city. In addition, the idea of going to a bar with only gay people can also put you off. If you don’t feel like going to a gay bar, fortunately there are other ways to find love.
Expreszo.nl, Jongenout.nl :Expreszo and Jong & Out are two websites where young people can get in touch with each other. Expreszo is a website for lesbian , gay and bisexual young people aged 15 to 30 in the Netherlands and Belgium. Expreszo contains all kinds of facts and figures regarding orientation, but it is also possible to come into contact with other lesbian, gay and bisexual young people. There is a forum and a dating page, where you can respond to messages from other young people and get in touch with each other by email (anonymously at first if desired). In addition, Expreszo is an interest group and offers a magazine with contemporary topics related to sexual orientation. In addition, Expreszo organizes Pann parties in the Netherlands, where lesbian, gay and bisexual young people can party together. Heterosexuals are also very welcome here. Jong & Out was founded by and for lesbian, gay and bisexual young people. It is a community for young people up to the age of eighteen, where young people can easily get in touch with each other. Jong & Out also organizes meetings for young people so that they can meet each other in a safe way. Jong & Out also provides information for parents and schools.
Gay.nl
Gay.nl is a website for lesbian, gay and bisexual people of all age categories. By uploading a photo and giving a little description of yourself, you can date other GLBTs. Gay.nl contains columns and a discussion forum, but is mainly a chat option. The majority of the members consist of homosexual men and young people aged 16 and over.
Student Association
Finally, you can also meet the love of your life through a student association. There are many in the Netherlands: including in Amsterdam (ASV Gay), Utrecht (UHSV Anteros) and Leiden (Leidsche Ganymedes Borrel).
Did you know…
- Homosexuality was officially removed from the internationally used list of diseases on May 17, 1990 and that May 17 is therefore the International Day against Homophobia?
- the gay pride parade originated in 1977 as a demonstration?
- Ellen DeGeneres was the first woman in Hollywood to openly admit her homosexuality during her career?
- homosexuality was very normal in Ancient Rome and Nero was probably the first emperor of Rome to marry a man?