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Loading ...Anti-gay violence growing problem in Amsterdam
11.21.2008 9:28am EST
(Amsterdam, Netherlands) Amsterdam faces an ingrained problem of violence against gay men, despite its reputation as a haven of tolerance, according to a new study released.
Town councilman Freek Ossel said the University of Amsterdam study, commissioned by the city, said the Dutch capital must improve protection of gays, increase education, and encourage reporting of discriminatory incidents.“Amsterdam’s title as a gay capital, according to some people, has already been gone for years, and according to others in any case it’s at stake,” he said.
The study said 67 attacks were reported in Amsterdam in 2007. Police commissioner Leo Wilde said the number was about average for recent years and “is not decreasing.”
The figure is difficult to compare with other cities. Amsterdam, with 750,000 people, has tried for years to improve reporting of anti-gay incidents, but police believe most still go unreported.
The study found that most attacks were carried out spontaneously by poorly educated young men who feel their masculinity has been questioned.
“In 40 percent of cases the trigger is if people think they’re being targeted” for seduction, said Laurens Buijs, one of the study’s authors. Attackers “see gays as predatory animals that can strike at any moment.”
The study drew its title “As Long As They Keep Away From Me” from that fear. It concluded that the tolerance often professed by Dutch youth is only a veneer: gay men are accepted only as long as they don’t display stereotypically gay behavior.
The study combined a broad survey of Amsterdam youth with in-depth interviews with smaller groups. Authors also interviewed individual attackers and reviewed recent cases.
“It’s very sad confirmation of what we already suspected,” said Dennis Boutkan, chairman of the Union for Homosexual Integration. “The layer of social acceptance of homosexuality is exceptionally fragile and thin.”
I love Amsterdam. I was there just four months ago. But I’m afraid Amsterdam isn’t immune from homophobia. In fact, it’s much like many urban cities in Europe and the U.S. There’s a thin veil of tolerance that hides deep-seated homophobia. Sadly, I don’t think we can ever truly eradicate homophobia among heterosexuals; we can only hope to minimize the feelings associated with homophobia from turning into actions against the gay community.
Amsterdam is clearly not the gay Utopia I long thought it was.
Whether in Europe or in America or in Canada, gay men especially are put themselves at foolish risk if they think that they can just be carefree and walk any city street they want hand in hand.
Think again!!!!
Or they think they can roam city street anywhere in the wee hours of the morning and not get attacked. Think again!!!!
I have been to different cities in Eu;ope, Canada and America and the only place that comes to mind where one can safely do that is Provincetown, MA. Other than that, only in a gay pride parade or festival or exclusively gay place would I feel brave enough to walk hand in hand with another man or to kiss him in public.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia in officially gay-friendly Canada, one never sees gay male residents of that city walking hand-in-hand. Not a good idea. Just because a country is officially gay-friendly doesn’t mean that filters down to the average non-gay male on the street, anywhere, anytime.
What does it take to remind us gay men that we are a small minority in every country in the world?
Too many ugly people out there who hate us or “tolerate” us just so far. Not worth it to be seen kissing another man or holding his hand otherwise except behind closed doors.
Morgan: While your cautions to your fellow LGBT cohort are certainly heard, well-heeded and understood, I would gently challenge that it is still something we need to do. Without our visibility, how will our youth and, for that matter, our elders, learn to understand the variety of LGBT diversity that exists around them? After all, if it wasn’t for Rosa, and those that followed her lead, stepping to the front of the bus, would we have an Obama President Elect today? Just a thought.
Violence against us gays has gone on for FAR too long worldwide. It is time for us to strike back for once!
Let’s all start attacking the straights all together to see how they like the taste of their own medicine… History tells us that respect is not granted for words, but won with blood. The time for diplomacy between the straights and the gays is over. Let us all start fighting for our safety, our rights and our respect!!!
Morgan - once again whose side are you on? You want us to just sit back and do nothing. Now you don’t even want us to be visible by holding hands? Once again, this is exactly the mentality that keeps our community from gaining any acceptance. Is there risk in being OUT, PROUD, and OPEN? Certainly. But without risk there is no reward. I know all too well. My husband and I live in a red state with our daughters. We have experienced homophobia, comments, spitting in our faces, getting shoved etc (ad naseum). But if we stop being open about who we are then we give away our power to the haters. Our daughters have seen us stand up for ourselves and refuse to give in and it has made them young champions of equality. They too have felt hatred simple for being children of gay parents - do we hide our family away to try to protect them? Certainly not - we love them, empathise with the struggle and teach them how to deal with intollerance. Additionally, for the times that we’ve experienced hatred, we’ve also had people tell us how much they appreciate seeing a loving family (seriously a 70 yr old lady walked up to us as we were walking hand in hand with our daughters through the park - same area where we had our had hateful comments)….open expression of love sets the tone and helps educate others that we are here, queer, and…surprise…we are human too! The only people that win when you cower in the corner are the people that hate you the most. Stop giving away your power. Hold hands. Be out. Be Proud. What a tremendous thing it would be if every GLBT person came out of the closet and walked hand in hand. That would make an impact beyond any boycott or parade. Being OUT is the most important “activism” any GLBT person can do (in my humble opinion).
Until the major world religions stop vilifying us, I don’t think that we’re ever going to be completely safe—anywhere!
I lived in Amsterdam in the 80’s and even then the so-called ‘tolerance’ was largely a myth.
To progress, we need to do several things, first and most important of which is to be OUT. No ifs, buts, maybes,somedays, OUT and NOW and deal with the consequences.
Secondly, we are and always be a minority, so we need ALLIES. It’s not either our rights or someone elses, it’s both. Join whatever local cause is important to you as an out gay person, e.g., the environment and align your local gay organisations with non-gay causes. If there are no local gay organisations, start one.
Thirdly, stop being reactive to the religious nut-jobs and get pro-active. Campaign against tax exemptions for religious bodies. If they want Christian prayer in aschools, campaign for Muslim, Bhuddist etc. prayers as well.
But most of all, be OUT.
They forgot to say that’s most of the attacks against gay people in Amsterdam is the work of young Muslim man. (but i guess it’s forbidden to even mention it)
**If you look at “Cote’’s” comment below and as a person who has been to Amsterdam many times. I Know you all are going to think racist, but not true, just reality. I bet the most of the assaulters are muslims or some extreme middle eastern religion.
In amsterdam I was basically assaulted by what was minority males that purposely bumped into me or stared at me or made even comments just as I walked along minding my business….
Trust me, they were NOT regular, typical Duth men.
So I am curious as to where exactly in Amsterdam and by whom are these “young men” that say “as long as they don’t mess with me” attitudes, what their true backgrounds are.
Its ashame that the Netherlands and Scandinavia opened its homes to religious and politically oppressed, only for them to set up shop and treat glbt there with such hate and contempt, just because in THEIR culture or religions they are taught to hate gay people!
I think the Netherlands needs to review their Immigration standards. If someone has a problem with their (Netherlands) “open” culture, mentality then they simple should not be given residency or citizenship status. That will be only way to keep intolerance out!
Yes, Michael of course “I know whose side” I am on. That to me personally is an interesting question after all my gay rights activism writing left and right demanding gay rights of politicians, governors.
And going to help out in MassEquality’s office during the political fighting and attending rally after rally and hold sign after sign for hours on end in Boston for gay marriage.
Flying from Maryland to California to help out with No on Prop 8. for 6 tedious long hours strapped into some uncomfortably small airplane seat and the same coming back home to fight for gay marriage rights there.
I attended gay marriage hearings in Congress listening to Barmey Frank and Marilyn Musgrove an author of Federal Marriage Amendment defend their positions.
I attended gay marriage hearings in Annapolis, Maryland and listened to antigay MD state senator Alex X Mooney question a father of gay man who gave testimony about his support for his son and for gay marriage asking the man questions as to whether his son was born gay or chose to be that way, He replied angrily, “I choose not to answer your question, sir, That is a point made moot by the fact that I love my son.”
I listened to both sides and to things like present Maryland law is based on the original English law that was here in Maryland since the 1600’s and that includes the marriage laws of the state.
The English law in our colony back then was one man-one woman law, etc. And put into writing in its current form and current modern English language 33 years ago.
Mooney stands in front of the law books across the hearing room and points them out as if to say, you are not going to challenge and overturn long-standing tradition and law in Maryland.
I heard from a good friend who witnesses the weeping and heartbreak of Dan Furmansky the head of Equality Maryland (which I belong to and contribute my arts and crafts to for their silent auctions to raise thousands of dollars for their gay rights work) after the weeks, months and long hours he and his staff put into bringing marriage equality to Maryland only to have Maryland’s highest court rule in favor of MD’s man-woman law.
I have given money and time to Equality Maryland to their GLBT rights work.
That should adequately answer your question about whose side I am on.
Morgan, it’s time you and your kind step aside and stop trying to put roadblocks up to stop progress.
The new generation of gay and lesbian people are sick and fucking tired of people like you, who keep telling us to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.
If “President” Obama could rush to Washington DC as a Senator and bail out the financial institution with the speed of light there’s no excuse for not moving quickly on issues of gay rights and equality.
You are more Pro-Obama than you are pro-Gay. It’s people like you who spent all your time for Obama and the DNC, instead of working on gay issues, who put us in this predicament. Here’s some eternal truths for you, 1. NOT all Democrats are our allies and 2. Not all Republicans are our enemies. There are Republicans like Susan Collins who support us and there are tons of Democrats, such as Byrd, who oppose us. Gay and lesbian people should NOT be beholden to one political party’s agenda nor to any particular ideology. This means, that gay and lesbian people should put gay and lesbian issues FIRST. Our issues are just as important and in many cases MORE important than economic cycles or bailouts. Why are our issues more important? Because as gay people, we not only have to deal with lack of equal rights and lack of non-discrimination protections but also the same economic bad news as anyone else!! We’re effected not only because we’re in the same damned economic boat, but we often are the first to be fired, because we’re employed at the pleasure of the employer.
So all this talk about why gays and lesbians need to be patient and take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism is nothing but pure BULLSH*T. If anything, gays and lesbians need to be anything but patient. We need to push for gay rights and marriage equality NOW, not in 2012, not in 2032, not in 2076 or whenever Democrats win 80% of Congress, which will NEVER happen. We need to push NOW, and idiots like Morgan standing in the way need to be SHOVED aside.
Rodney Moore said: “If ‘President’ Obama could rush to Washington DC as a Senator and bail out the financial institution with the speed of light there’s no excuse for not moving quickly on issues of gay rights and equality.”
Few other Americans see issues of gay rights and equality as being as important as the financial and economic issues that hit them right at home. They outnumber us considerably. The gay community can’t afford to adopt an adolescent approach and think that it can just ignore political realities. That would be political suicide. Most gays seem mature enough to see that.
And, by the way, there is no comparison between the number of Republican and Democratic politicians who support our rights. The Republican Party has clearly and intentionally declared itself our enemy (no surprise there, because the religious right comprises about 40% of its core support). Except on very rare occasions, voting for the Republicans is a vote for our enemy.
Dear Rodney Moore,
I am not here to win your approval or any one else’s.
I have an opinion about politics and a right to that opinion same as you have a right to yours.
If you had bothered to read my other postings, you would have long ago found out that I considered Obama less than perfect, I wss much more in favor of Kucinich than for Obama and still prefer him to Obama.
I found your other comments about on this site far more interesting than this one where you chose to use very unkind words about me. I have never done that to you or anyone else and I while I may have a difference of opinion, I do not use words like “your kind” and “step aside.”
Never once have used words like “your kind” and “step aside”. And I will not “step aside”.
Forgive me for having to write this message to you, but I feel deeply that unkindness can not go unanswered.
Good day,sir.
“Republicans have declared themselves our enemies” That’s right and Democrats have declared themselves neutral at best.
I am NOT a Republican, I am not a Democrat, in fact I belong to the Parti Quebecois and the Socialist Party USA. I am about as far from a Republican as you’ll find on this site. BUT as much as I differ with the GOP, I realize that there are PLENTY of gay allies within the GOP. With that said, let’s move onto our issues.
Gay and lesbian issues are every other American issue plus our issues. Marriage equality is NOT a single issue, but all issues effected by marital status(ie social security, immigration, college financial aid, healthcare, taxes) rolled into one. Economic issues are cyclical, and as much as I sympathize with struggling families, since I am in the same economic boat, gay and lesbian issues should take IMMEDIATE precedence for our own community. If we want Obama or anyone to care about our issues, we need gay people to care about them. What I am hearing from the likes of you and Morgan, is that not even gay people should care about gay issues, most less our illustrious new President.
And you mention adolescents. I am 30, and I see a NEW and younger wave of gay activism, energizing our community with youthful vibrancy and energy. All I can say is it’s about damn time. “Mature” minded gradualists, like yourself and Morgan, who keep telling us to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism do more damage to our movement than the opposition. You would have us sacrifice our own issues, our own community’s concerns at the altar of Obama’s re-election. Thankfully younger gays and lesbians, are more “adolescent” in their approach as opposed to the convalescent approach of waiting until we’re in the nursing home to see any progress.
Morgan,, you and people like you who keep preaching patience and the tranquilizing drug of gradualism deserve nothing less than collective gay revulsion. I have no time to listen to you or people like you, who preach that we should base our struggle on what is politically convenient or on someone’s re-election campaign.
As a gay person who stands up for his own rights and fights for the rights of others, without a fancy title or a well funded organization behind me, I loath people like you. You would have us sell out our rights, sell out our concerns and become mindless lemmings marching to the beat of Obama’s re-election campaign tune.
Gay and lesbian rights are bigger than YOU, they’re bigger than me, yet it’s people like you who keep telling the rest of us to hurry up to slow down. You and people like you are in the way, you impede progress and it’s time that you step aside so the rest of us can do the heavy lifting and make REAL change and progress possible.
I make NO apologies because you don’t deserve any.