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Gay parade: Amsterdam's annual outing of pride but rights groups say tolerance is declining
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Homophobia is on the rise here in the Netherlands, the country that was the first in the world to legalise same sex marriages.
A recent survey from the COC gay rights group shows that one in three lesbians and gay men no longer feel safe holding hands in Amsterdam.
And an attack on American gay journalist Chris Crain in the centre of the city - he was spat upon and badly beaten up after being called a 'faggot' by a gang of young men who saw him holding his boyfriend's hand - led to worldwide media attention for the problem.
To register their unease at the rise in bigotry, gay and lesbian people held a demonstration in the heart of the Dutch capital last week, which coincided with the first ever International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).
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Some have pointed to a lack of acceptance of gay people by the Muslim community as being behind the rise in bigotry here in the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Forum focused on the rise in intolerance this week. Forum host Andy Clark was joined by activist Puck Verdoes, the organiser of the demonstration in Amsterdam, and by Ahmed Dadou, a Moroccan Dutch lawyer. The programme also features an interview with Chris Crain, an extended version is available below.
Key Quotes
Puck Verdoes on the rise in intolerance.
"I think that tension is on the rise everywhere and as a following from that some people are going to get it. It's not really clear how bad it is for the gay community, but, if you speak to people, everybody is telling stories - it's not good and it's getting worse."
Ahmed Dadou on people who say the rise in intolerance has coincided with the growth of the Muslim population in Amsterdam:
"I don't think it is a Muslim problem, otherwise you would have seen it across the whole Muslim group in every age and in every class, but that's not the issue. It's always the same small group of youngsters, street-boys so to say, who cause the same problems, not only towards the gay community but towards everyone they dislike."
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Homophobia is casting its shadow in Amsterdam
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Ahmed Dadou on the Dutch government's role:
"The government really doesn't know what to do and they probably add to the problem because of their harsh statements about the Muslim community and about these youngsters, and especially Moroccan youths, they do push these youngsters away from society and once you are pushed away you have to fight back."
Puck Verdoes - do people in the 'gay community' worry about the views of the 'Muslim community?'
"They do in general but I think it's also a lack of knowledge and I think that these groups of youngsters do go out and try and cause trouble, but it's not only Muslim kids. In the schools it's very mixed and on the streets as well, but the finger always gets pointed really easily to everyone who is Muslim and I don't agree with that at all - it's the same thing as saying gays are not right - it's nonsense."
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Ahmed Dadou on stigmatisation of Muslims:
"We shouldn't mix up things by simply placing the label Muslim on them because that is what is happening globally and now we really see the consequences of that. I don't think there are many practical solutions but if there is one then it is to give the Muslim community, at least these youngsters, the idea that they have a place in society and that we do everything to find them jobs and education."
Ahmed Dadou on the gay community's image of the Muslim community:
"As a Muslim, I am very sad that it is now the gay community that has a bad image of the Muslims, because for years the gay community supported the Muslims because they knew how difficult it is to be a minority in the Netherlands. But I think Pim Fortuyn [the populist politician assassinated by an animal rights activist in 2002] changed a lot about that. He was openly gay and at the same time he was totally anti-Muslim, that's how it was perceived by the Muslim community - so I think he might have added to the hatred in the Muslim community towards some gay people."
"People are shocked abroad because they have the idea that the Netherlands is the most tolerant country in the world, well, forget it, that's not the case. As a Muslim with a darker skin I have never felt very at ease even in a train, so we should get rid of that idea and see the incidents in their perspective."
Puck Verdoes on over simplification of Muslim view:
"There was this one book that said gays could be thrown off buildings and it got so much attention and it was repeated and repeated on television that people who don't really pay attention believe Muslim people think gay people should be thrown off a building - which is too simple."
Ahmed Dadou on Muslim tolerance:
"The average Muslim works with his gay colleague without any problem or goes to school with gays without any problems."
Puck Verdoes on homosexuality being a taboo in Muslim culture:
"Muslim kids who have some kind of gay feelings might get really frustrated because it's not really a subject you can talk about - it's a taboo. So there's a lot of tension in that area because one out of ten youngsters turns out to be gay."
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Kiss-and-cuddle demo in Amsterdam
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"I think it has been wrong of Dutch society and Dutch government to use homosexuality as an item to show that Muslims are 'backward' and they should be 'civilised.' The Muslim community has been used all the time in politics in recent months with people saying as long as you don't accept homosexuality you are not part of the civilised world. I think these youngsters have listened very well to this and they thought: 'Okay well, if I'm uncivilised then I'm going to show you that.'"
"The Netherlands has really to change its attitude towards the integration discussion and to stop blaming the Muslim community for everything that goes wrong in this country."
Puck Verdoes on last week's demonstration in Amsterdam:
"I organised the kiss-in get together last week to make a protest and all these gay people just jumped up and ran over to the Leidseplein just to be there and be proud and show themselves and not have any fear at all. So I think it's not all that bad, but we do need to really pay attention and take care and be gentle with each other."
A selection of the email messages you sent to us:
Jan, Amsterdam: "Attitudes of people are moulded by the leaders. Present politics in the Netherlands is based on 'divide and rule.' The country is clearly divided into two major groups, i.e. Dutch people and foreigners. Both the groups are sub-divided. Policies, projects and programmes are made and propagated to create confrontation. And politicians are enjoying the benefits of confrontation. The sense of give and take, tolerance, hospitality and care are diminishing day by day. Economic factors are also contributing to the miseries of common people, which is the fruit of the present government. More and more people are fleeing the country. The government wants to change the multi-cultural society, by following the polder model. Let's wait and see."
Jan Velema, London, Ontario, Canada: "Religious ideology leads to homophobia and hate. It has a proven track record. Mythological belief is taking us back to the dark ages."
Denis, Montreal: "I am living in another gay-friendly city that is Montreal. Despite the recent event in Amsterdam, this city is still a gay-friendly city. We should not take exceptional events as a rule. It may happen everywhere. We just have to keep our eyes open wherever we are in order to defend or rights."
Elena Milo, Spain: "What is happening in Amsterdam is probably a reflection of a large-scale shift towards right-wing puritanism and low tolerance in many western countries."
Christopher, USA: "Many nations that have liberalised their views towards gay rights are re-thinking them as well. This is a very logical thought process. Visibility is very good and its acknowledgement is fine, but full equal rights should not really be the goal. Increasingly, a number of gays I know believe baby steps should be taken for rights or equality. Some have taken the view that a separate identity is the way to go. To answer your question, is Amsterdam still the gay capital of the world? Considering the events in the last two years I would say it no longer is. The climate seems to now be one of intolerance.
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Proud gesture of defiance at the gay demo
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Elaina, Los Angeles, California, USA: "I was quite surprised indeed to read about the attack on this journalist, having been to Amsterdam and seen its great acceptance towards homosexuality. I hope the authorities and gay rights groups do all possible not to just punish those who perpetrate such acts, but to foster tolerance amongst residents of the city and educate others about tolerance, etc. I believe that most Dutch people are very open-minded and will not campaign against bigotry of all forms."
Isabel, Portugal: "Everybody knows the reasons behind this repression. Definitely we live in a plural world and all we can do is accept or reject or respect! I choose this third option; it is more wise and tolerant. What can be done is inside of each one of us. Would you like someone to repress you too? Or that we live under a dictator again?"
Destiny Jackson, Fresno, California, USA: "Amsterdam is the gayest country."
Tony Pope, USA: "As an outsider who loves the Netherlands, who is a frequent visitor, and who, unlike many of the Muslim immigrants in the country, has taken the time to learn the language and to study the literature, art, architecture and history of the Netherlands, I am outraged at this intolerance toward gays and toward individuals who are critical of aspects of Muslim culture (Theo Van Gogh comes immediately to mind)."
"The Dutch people have bent over backwards to make immigrants feel at home, and what they get in return is a profound lack of gratitude and a high level of hostility. Some of my Dutch friends' children have come home from school crying because their Muslim classmates told them they were infidels and they were going to hell."
"So my message to the Dutch people and Muslim immigrants is simple: If you believe the Netherlands is an ungodly place, then leave. If you commit a crime of intolerance, you will automatically be deported. If you steal, you will be deported. If you don't believe in the Dutch system, then don't accept state assistance. It's time for the Dutch to recognize what's great about their culture, and to roundly and unabashedly criticize those who would try to undermine it."
Steve, St. Louis, USA: "I live in the US most of the year but about 18 months ago, my partner and I bought an apartment on the Kerkstraat. We bought the apt because we spend as much time as possible in Amsterdam. Among the many other reasons was how safe we have always felt there (not necessarily as gay men, but as individuals). It would be dreadful to see individual safety and freedoms erode. The Dutch government MUST take action to insure religious fanatics are not allowed to impose their beliefs on a city or a nation. How long will it be before these same groups start publicly beating women and children who are not dressed 'properly', or start demanding the public execution of 'sinners.'"