Eclectic Impressions

Helden

2008-11-08T21:59:00.000+01:00

Afgelopen week kwamen enkele honderden activisten bijeen in Wenen op de conferenties van de LGBT koepelorganisatie ILGA. Meer dan 90 nationaliteiten kwamen bijeen in Wenen. Samen spraken we over de situaties in verschillende landen en hoe er beter kan worden samengewerkt.

De ervaringen van activisten uit de hele wereld herinneren mij eraan waarom ons werk zo keihard nodig is. Voor mij is het een weerzien met veel helden. Ik ben blij om bijvoorbeeld Alecos Modinos weer te zien: een Cyprioot die inmiddels al decennia lang strijdt tegen homofobie op dit verre Europese eiland.

Vorig najaar bezocht ik hem op Cyprus en hij vertelde mij over zijn jarenlange strijd tegen de overheid. Cyprus is geen vreselijk groot eiland, veel mensen kennen elkaar. Daarom zijn er maar weinig homo’s en lesbiennes uit de kast.

Hij is één van de weinige die wel ‘uit’ is. Hij klaagde zijn land Cyprus in de jaren negentig aan tegen de criminalisering van homoseksualiteit.

Destijds leidde dat tot een belangrijke doorbraak bij het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens: Cyprus werd verplicht gesteld homoseksualiteit te decriminaliseren. Het voelt als een groot voorrecht deze man te kennen. Een voorbeeld van een man waarbij de begrippen gelijkheid en rechtvaardigheid in het bloed zitten.

Ook in Wenen liep de verkiezingskoorts hoog op. Hier en daar een enkele Obama-button, maar vooral veel gesprekken over welke invloed een nieuwe president kan hebben op de situatie van homo’s in de wereld. Eerder schreef ik al over hoe de VS zich in internationale organisaties vaak nog conservatief opstelt.

Amerika zou als invloedrijk land binnen veel internationale organisaties nu een veel positievere rol kunnen gaan spelen om homofobie wereldwijd te bestrijden. Immers: veel van de huidige conservatieve diplomaten op belangrijke buitenlandse posten zullen de komende maanden door Obama worden vervangen. Het zal dan ook geen verassing zijn dat de verkiezing van Obama groots gevierd werd tijdens de conferentie.

Als Obama homovriendelijk blijft zoals hij dat nu zegt te zijn, dan zal dit een behoorlijke impact kunnen gaan hebben.

Mensenrechtencommissaris Thomas Hammarberg van de Raad van Europa sprak de Europese conferentie toe. Hij sprak ondermeer over het belang van gelijke toepassing van mensenrechten voor transgender personen. Erg belangrijk dat hij dit doet, ook in Nederland moet er nog veel gebeuren op dit gebied.

Op dit moment is het zo dat een man-naar-vrouwtransitie pas wettelijk erkend wordt als aan een ‘sterilisatie-eis’ is voldaan. Medisch gezien is deze ingreep onnodig, en daarmee onacceptabel. In Turkije werken veel transgenders hierdoor noodgedwongen in de prostitutie.

Niet alleen is dit de enige manier om hun geslachtsveranderende operatie te kunnen bekostigen, dit doen zij ook omdat ze na hun operatie vaak nergens anders meer aan het werk komen.

Nog veel werk aan de winkel, dus!

Ook een klein Nederlands succes tijdens de vergadering: COC Haaglanden zal de ILGA-Europe conferentie in 2010 organiseren in Den Haag! De Nederlandse overheid én Den Haag ondersteunen de conferentie, wat het mogelijk maakt om in 2010 vele activisten uit Europa bijeen te brengen.

Moe vloog ik gisteravond terug naar Amsterdam, vol met nieuwe ideeën en geïnspireerd door de verhalen van helden uit de hele wereld. Tot de volgende keer!

Verenigde Naties: vrouwenrechten ook voor lesbische, biseksuele en transgender vrouwen?

2008-10-21T17:18:00.000+02:00

In 1979 ging de Algemene Vergadering van de Verenigde Naties akkoord met de aanname van het ‘internationaal vrouwenverdrag’ (Convention for the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women – CEDAW). Het vrouwenverdrag is sindsdien een belangrijk instrument om de positie van vrouwen wereldwijd te verbeteren. Binnen de VN geldt dat zodra een land een verdrag heeft geratificeerd, zij om de naleving van dit verdrag aangesproken kan worden. Tot op heden hebben 185 landen van de in totaal 192 VN lidstaten het verdrag geratificeerd. De naleving van dit vrouwenverdrag wordt gemonitord door het Comité voor vrouwenrechten, dat bestaat uit onafhankelijke experts. Alle landen die het verdrag hebben geratificeerd dienen elke vier jaar een rapportage in op basis waarvan voorgang besproken wordt. NGO’s kunnen daarnaast de leden van het comité ook informeren over hun perspectief. Dit kunnen zij doen door het indienen van schaduwrapportages en het organiseren van informatiebijeenkomsten voor leden van het comité.

Wat mij direct opvalt is dat er nauwelijks mannen aanwezig zijn tijdens de beoordeling door het comité. Blijkbaar zijn vrouwenrechten vooral een zaak voor vrouwen, wat ik opmerkelijk vindt. In het comité zit zelf één man tussen 22 vrouwen: de Nederlandse Cees Flinterman. Tussen alle NGO’s ben ik zelf een van de weinige aanwezige mannen…

COC Nederland organiseerde afgelopen maandag samen met IWRAW (International Women Rights Action Watch) een side-event tijdens de bijeenkomst van CEDAW. Wij doen dit omdat wij vinden dat de discriminatie van lesbische, biseksuele en transgender vrouwen ook gedekt wordt door het VN-vrouwenverdrag. Het verdrag verwijst immers naar een aantal principiële waarden: mensenrechten zijn universeel, gelden voor alle mensen en zijn gebaseerd op gelijkheid (onder meer tussen mannen en vrouwen). De voorzitster van het panel, Madeleine Rees, hoofd vrouwenrechten bij het kantoor voor de Hoge Commissaris van de mensenrechten, drukte het tijdens haar opening mooi uit: “To say that one part of women is not protected by the convention, is to abandon its application to all women.”

De onafhankelijke experts die onderdeel uitmaken van het comité beslissen per consensus welke aanbevelingen zij maken nadat een land door hen beoordeeld is. Helaas zijn niet alle leden van het comité even welwillend om zich bezig te houden met seksuele oriëntatie en gender identiteit. Tijdens een bijeenkomst in juli drukte een van hen dit stellig uit: “Over my death body we will not deal with such issues!” Ferme taal, maar dit weerspiegelt helaas nog steeds al te goed de werkelijkheid waarbinnen we met de Verenigde Naties maar te doen hebben. Door het side-event hopen we de leden van het comité zover te krijgen om te besluiten dat zij in het vervolg ook aanbevelingen gaan maken over de situatie van lesbische, biseksuele en transgender vrouwen.

Daarom hebben we er in samenwerking met IWRAW voor gezorgd dat activisten uit drie landen die deze ronde aan de orde komen, presentaties kunnen geven over de situatie in hun land. Ik heb groot respect voor de activisten uit Kirgizië, Mongolië en Ecuador die op geweldige manier vertelden met welke problemen hun gemeenschappen nog dagelijks te maken hebben. Hun verhalen maken duidelijk indruk op de aanwezige leden van het comité.

Activisten uit Ecuador vertellen over het werk van klinieken, waar homo’s en lesbiennes naartoe worden gestuurd om te genezen van hun seksualiteit. De vertegenwoordigers uit Kirgizië vertelt onder meer over het geweld dat plaatsvindt tegen leden uit de gemeenschap: lesbische vrouwen worden vaak ontvoerd, verkracht en gedwongen te trouwen met een man. In Mongolië is het de beweging nog steeds niet gelukt een organisatie geregistreerd te krijgen. Net als in Kirgizië hoeven slachtoffers van homofoob geweld hier niet aan te kloppen bij de politie. Dat zullen ze ook niet doen, want deze slachtoffers lopen vaak het risico ook nog eens door de politie verbaal en fysiek mishandelt te worden.

Hartverwarmend is het optreden van Glenda Simms, een expert afkomstig uit Jamaica. Ze veroordeelt de homofobe houding van veel politici, waaronder die in haar eigen land. Ze wijst ons activisten op het gevaar om de begrippen ‘moraliteit’ en ‘religie’ met elkaar te verweven. Religie gaat over een eigen idee dat groepen in de samenleving hebben over goed en fout, terwijl moraliteit gaat over de kijk op humaniteit binnen een samenleving. Daarom moeten activisten zich meer richten op het begrip humaniteit als basis voor het voeren van discussies.

Een ander lid van het comité, dat zich in het verleden uitsprak tegen homoseksualiteit, lijkt door de verhalen 180 graden in mening gedraaid. Ze benadrukt dat discriminatie van lesbische en biseksuele vrouwen moet worden aangepakt.

Het seminar eindigt met een interventie van een andere NGO: ONE spirit. Zij vertegenwoordigen een spirituele gemeenschap die homo’s en lesbiennes ervaart als ‘gezegende mensen’. Doordat we zowel kenmerken hebben van het vrouwelijke geslacht als het mannelijke geslacht zijn wij ‘tweegeestelijk’ en voor hen dus heilig. Homofobie heeft zich pas lang na de schepping ontwikkeld in de samenleving en moet keihard bestreden worden volgens hen. Een onverwachte maar warme bijdrage aan het debat.

Na afloop vraagt een activist uit Ecuador aan mij of ze nou blij moet zijn met de uitkomsten van de bijeenkomst. Ze vraagt zich af wat voor goed nieuws ze nu mee naar huis mee kan nemen. Een hartverscheurende vraag die precies de inhumaniteit van organisaties als de Verenigde Naties weerspiegelt. Op korte termijn zal er helemaal niks veranderen. Maar door dit soort bijeenkomsten hopen we beetje bij beetje erkenning op te bouwen dat mensenrechtenschendingen op basis van seksuele oriëntatie en genderidentiteit niet onverlet gelaten mogen worden. Dat kost veel tijd en het is vreselijk belang om activisten uit deze landen hierover te laten praten in dit soort fora. Na zo’n bijeenkomst moeten zij weer terug naar de problemen waar ze eventjes op hoog niveau over konden praten, zonder dat zo’n bijeenkomst direct impact heeft op hun werk. Maar tegelijkertijd vindt er wel een dialoog plaats, die langzaam toch bijdraagt aan een betere wereld.

Meer informatie:

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/index.htm

De OVSE-wat?

2008-10-21T17:17:00.000+02:00

(14-10-2008 @ gay.nl)
Het najaar is altijd een erg drukke periode in mensenrechtenland. Om een mij onbekende reden vinden veel belangrijke bijeenkomsten plaats in oktober en november. Dat betekent vliegtuig in en uit deze tijd. Een periode waarin er veel goed werk verzet kan worden en daarmee veel inspiratie oplevert!

Begin oktober was ik op de Equality Summit in Parijs. Frankrijk is momenteel voorzitter van de Europese Unie en organiseerde in dat kader een bijeenkomst waarin werd gesproken over anti-discriminatiebeleid en de EU.

De bijeenkomst ging vooral over een voorstel dat de Europese Commissie heeft gedaan om met nieuwe anti-discriminatie regelgeving te komen; een voorstel waar wij bij het COC uiteraard erg blij mee zijn. Er moet echter nog veel werk worden verzet voordat dit voorstel werkelijkheid wordt.

Veel landen hebben geen zin in de implementatie van allerlei nieuwe regeltjes. Ook Nederland staat nog niet voorin de rij te juichen.

Het kabinet wil nu eerst gaan uitzoeken wat de implementatie kost in verband met de nodige aanpassingen die gedaan moeten worden om allerlei zaken zoals het openbaar vervoer toegankelijk te maken voor gehandicapten. Begrijpelijk, maar wat meer enthousiasme voor het hele voorstel zou wel op zijn plaats zijn

Vorige week was ik op bezoek bij een mensenrechtenconferentie van de OVSE. De wat? Juist, de Organisatie voor Veiligheid en Samenwerking in Europa. Waarschijnlijk een van de minst bekende internationale samenwerkingsorganisaties. Waarschijnlijk ken je de OVSE wel van het waarnemen van verkiezingen in verschillende landen.

De doelstelling van de OVSE is het bevorderen van samenwerking op militair, economisch en humanitair gebied. De OVSE heeft ook een mandaat om zich in te zetten voor het monitoren van hate crimes, oftewel: geweld gericht op iemands specifieke persoonskenmerken.

Wij vinden dat de OVSE zich uiteraard ook in moet zetten tegen homofobe hate crimes, geweld gericht op homo's of mensen die geacht worden er homoseksueel uit te zien.

Een aantal partnerstaten bij de OVSE houdt homofobie echter van de agenda: in dit geval met name de Verenigde Staten, geïnspireerd door het Vaticaan als observerend partnerland.

Om homofobie toch op de agenda te zetten, namen wij dit jaar het initiatief om in de marge van de plenaire zitting een bijeenkomst te organiseren waarin we experts uitnodigden het woord te voeren over homofobe hatecrimes. Dit deden we samen met andere gerespecteerde mensenrechtenorganisaties: Human Rights Watch (waarvoor Boris Dittrich het woord voerde), Human Rights First en ILGA-Europe (een Europese koepelorganisatie van HLBT organisaties, waar COC Nederland lid van is).

Naast hen nodigden wij voorts een 'frontliner' uit om het woord te voeren. Vertegenwoordiger van de Turkse homobewegingen spraken onder meer over hun ervaring met geweld tegen transgender prostituees (veel transgenders in Turkije belanden noodgedwongen in de prostitutie om hun levensonderhoud te kunnen blijven bekostigen).

Het zogenaamde side event verliep erg succesvol. De Nederlandse Ambassadeur van de OVSE bezocht het evenement, alsmede een hoge vertegenwoordiger van Griekenland, het land dat het voorzitterschap van de OVSE volgend jaar overneemt. Tijdens het evenement vonden interessante discussies plaats, bijvoorbeeld over het botsen van verschillende mensenrechten: de botsing tussen vrijheid van meningsuiting, vrijheid van Religie en bestaande verboden op hate speech.

Tijdens de plenaire bijeenkomst sprak ik namens COC Nederland een verklaring uit waarin we partnerstaten oproepen om zich expliciet in te gaan zetten tegen homofobe hatecrimes. Hier vind je meer informatie.

Door onze aanwezigheid heeft homofobie zeer duidelijk op de agenda gestaan.

Een aantal landen dat in het verleden negatief stond ten op zichte van homorechten liet zijn gezicht zien tijdens het side-event, of ondersteunde het EU-statement dat werd voorgelezen en waarin duidelijk werd gesteld dat alle discriminatiegronden op gelijke wijze en met gelijke kracht bestreden moeten worden. Zo vergroten we stapje bij stapje het draagvlak om actief te werken aan het bestrijden van homofobie.

Inmiddels ben ik even in Amsterdam. We maken ons op voor een tweetal bijeenkomsten die we dit jaar nog (mede-)organiseren bij de Verenigde Naties. Ook ben ik druk met het opvolgen van de studiereis aan Straatsburg die we vorige maand uitvoerden. Over het verloop hiervan zal ik jullie op de hoogte houden, maar nu weten jullie tenminste waarom het najaar zo druk is, in mensenrechtenland.

De Raad van Europa, Europa weet Raad?

2008-10-21T17:15:00.000+02:00

12/09/2008 @gay.nl

Lopend door de straten van Straatsburg denk ik terug aan mijn middelbare schooltijd, toen ik tijdens een schoolreis voor het eerst kennis maakte met de Europese Unie. Ik herinner me de zwarte kathedraal in het centrum van Straatsburg maar vooral ook de enorme gebouwen van de Europese Instituties. Grootse architectuur die enorme indruk op mij maakte.

De afgelopen jaren ben ik regelmatig naar Straatsburg teruggekeerd. Niet voor de keet, maar voor bezoeken aan het Europees Parlement of voor studiesessies die we met IGLYO (de organisatie waarvan ik de afgelopen jaren voorzitter was) organiseerden.

Deze keer heeft mijn bezoek een ander doel. Geflankeerd door COC bestuurslid Joyce Hamilton ben ik hier om de Raad van Europa beter te leren kennen.

Let wel: dit is niet de Europese Unie, maar de oudste internationale organisatie in Europa! De Raad van Europa heeft als primaire doelstelling het bewaken van mensenrechten en is dus veel minder dan de Europese Unie een Sociaal-Economisch verbond. Het COC acht het tijd dat dit soort organisaties zich ook in moet zetten tegen homofobie. Er moet namelijk nog wel het een en ander gebeuren inzake discriminatie van homo’s, lesbiennes, biseksuelen en transgenders.

Zoals met zoveel internationale organisaties is bij de Raad van Europa homofobie nog steeds een onderwerp dat gevoelig ligt. Dat bleek bijvoorbeeld uit een uitspraak die onze eigen René van der Linden vorig jaar deed, toen hij nog voorzitter was van de Parlementaire Assemblee van de organisatie (zeg maar de Tweede Kamer). Op een vraag waarom hij de problemen rondom de Gay Pride in Moskou niet besprak in een ontmoeting met toenmalig Rusland president Putin, antwoordde hij dat landen als Nederland haar progressieve houding ten opzichte van dit soort dingen niet teveel moest opdringen aan andere landen.

Tja, wat te zeggen?

Nederlandse politici die zich internationaal soms op een meer dan ongepaste wijze uitlaten over beleidskwesties en persoonlijke opvattingen, zijn nog immer in grote getale aanwezig. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan de uitspraken die Premier Balkenende destijds in Indonesië deed. Geen reclame voor ons polderlandje!

Het COC probeert een bijdrage te leveren door Nederlandse politici die internationaal actief zijn van informatie te voorzien. Waardevolle input die zij in debatten met buitenlandse politici kunnen gebruiken wanneer zij zich homofoob uitlaten. In internationale fora is het namelijk niet zeldzaam dat men zich afvraagt of het promoten van homoseksualiteit de bevolkingsgroei in gevaar brengt, of dat homoseksualiteit een besmettelijke ziekte is.

Gelukkig is dit niet representatief voor de hele Raad van Europa.

Zo heeft onafhankelijk mensenrechtenambassadeur Thomas Hammarberg al verscheidene malen aandacht gevraagd voor homofobie in Europa en opgeroepen tot een gezamenlijke aanpak van homofobie.

Langzamerhand begint de organisatie het belang van homorechten steeds meer te erkennen. Er is echter nog een lange weg te gaan. De komende tijd zullen zowel vertegenwoordigers van de parlementen als de Nederlandse overheid een kans krijgen om de positie van homoseksuelen in de regio te verbeteren. En wij blijven een oogje in het zeil houden om er voor te zorgen dat hier het maximale wordt uitgehaald.

Beloofd!

Visitors

2008-10-13T23:42:00.003+02:00

These days I am hosting two very special visitors. Their names are Jazz and Caramelo and like most visitors they aren't Dutch. Mother and daughter are originally from Ibiza - but have spent a few months in Amsterdam now.

Sunday we spent at the beach: it was wonderful weather and with other friends we went for a long walk. Other days we have been cycling and walking around the city.

Jazz and Caramelo are extremely friendly and cuddly. Caramelo likes to sleep under the blankets and Jazz snors a little bit. Tonight we went for a walk and they tried to catch rabbits.

Well... I guess these dogs are a lovely distraction during this busy autumn!

My Digital Pet

2008-08-20T20:43:00.002+02:00

Nabaztag is a digital bunny which you connects to the internet and reads out e-mail messages, weather forecasts, RSS-feeds and can serve as alarm. Nabaztag can move his ears, has various LEDs which light up if a new message arrives and speaks English and French. You just have to connect Nabaztag to your modem and....

AAAAAHHHH! I've been trying to connect Nabaztag to my modem for the past three months - and it doesn't work! Probably because I'm a computer nerd, but it's so frustrating. I even managed to stop my whole internet connection from working last week. My livebox (stupid modem!) doesn't allow the connection to be made. The helpdesk person yesterday was kindly enough to help me reconnect to the internet. So far so good. When I told about my bunny she said she wanted one too. And she advised me to look on wizzkid fora on the internet to find instructions. But they don't exist.

My Nabaztag will remain a very silent pet, I fear.

Back to work

2008-08-19T20:56:00.003+02:00

Today I started to work again, after a couple of weeks of nice holidays! I spent my free days different from what I was used to during the past years, basically enjoying the summer (for what it was) in Amsterdam. It's good to be back at work - there's many things that need to be done - but to most of the things I'm looking much forward. A couple of weeks ago COC obtained consultative status with the United Nations, which means that we will now start to engage with various UN mechanisms. Amongst other activities I aim to facilitate access for colleage activists to relevant Human Rights fora - something which is much needed.

Uniquely, I've manage to spent over three weeks of my holidays in Amsterdam. As I enjoy being in the city this was a good experience. Have explored some sides of the city I didn't manage to see before (amongst which in particular culturally less responsible sites like a Shopping mall, the House of Horror and one of the biggest Cinemas in town to see Batman). Also I finished reading the autobiography of Bill Clinton - an interesting (but long) perspective into the life of an American president. Currently I'm reading 'Murder in Amsterdam' from the Dutch/Brittish author Ian Buruma, giving an interesting perspective on 'tolerance' in the Netherlands.

And of course there was Gay Pride in Amsterdam...which I watched from the side this year. My parents however were in the parade, on the 'Proud Parents' boat. My sister and I waved proudly back to them!

Istanbul Pride

2008-07-01T23:26:00.002+02:00

This year I finally made it to Istanbul pride, and I am glad I did! The event was a great success: a happy celebration of the local community. Probably more than a celebration the pride was of great political value for the local community. Being visible in big numbers is still an important tool for showing the very existence of the community.

Tonight I went with a little boat on the Turkish canals together with some friends. I think that's one of the greatest things to do when living in Amsterdam.

Thoughts

2008-06-26T21:26:00.003+02:00

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Often I have been thinking this, and once when I still kept a diary, I even wrote these words. The credo always came to mind whenever I am unsatisfied with the situation I find myself in, and I feel a need for change. Regardless whether I feel I am in the need of a better condition, I want a new job, orI want to move or to loose weight: this credo always is an inner order for action.

And still, I frequently dream of how things in life could be better. In bad periods I occupy my mind with such pointless thoughts. Sometimes I start to plan actions, write down new years resolutions and share my intentions widely with friends. All these preparations are necessary to ensure that I truly realise the dream I have. But friends now that intentions often remain intentions. In better periods I tend to forget the dreams I have, and I realise that I like what I'm doing.

"Action speaks louder than words," as Mark Twain wrote, seems rationally a more attractive credo. It is strange but true: most good things in my life occur rather just because they happen, not because they are long time desired or even planned. But these things eventually often are the result of who you really are. Which often makes me wonder: are you the result of what you do, or are you the result of what you want to do.

Double loyalty

2008-06-22T12:10:00.002+02:00

Well Mr. Hiddink, I think it's time for you to hand in your Dutch passport. After the victory of 'your' Russian team last night, it now is time to show where your loyalty stays....with Russia or with your home country!

Strange, I haven't heard anyone saying this. And this whereas not so long ago the debate on whether immigrants should be loyal to one country only dominated the political debate for a long time. Many politicians said that immigrants should hand in the passport of their home country, if they wanted to stay in the Netherlands.

Apparently such policy would not apply for emigrants. Would native Dutch people be able to share their loyalty? In case of Guus Hiddink (whom is the coach of the Russian national football team), this doesn't seem to be important.

To me this discussion is just a sign of a lack of self-confidence. If a government would need to demand loyalty from its citizens, then something is wrong with the country. What would be the next step after handing in your second passport? Would school children need to sing the national anthem in their classes each day? It all makes me think of non-democratic societies, where self-determination slowly becomes inferior to the needs of the nation. These nervous attempts seem to derive from an ignorance that young people increasingly feel that their identities are constructed from European or global symbols. And this development is not something of the past years, globalization simply has led to a redefinition of identities.

I haven't seen as much patriotism in the Netherlands as during the past weeks. During hopeless attempts to win the European Football championship many streets were coloured orange and red/white/blue, our national colours. Something seemed to unite citizens. Next to our national colours the Turkish national colour (red) is still very visible, as Turkey is still in the run to win the Championship. Maybe it makes some of our politicians happy that many Turks have two flags hanging out of their window: the Turkish flag and the Dutch flag. Now that is what I call shared loyalty!

So when I'll visit Istanbul next week and shall try to learn the Turkish anthem by heart, and sing for my fellow-citizens with the red flags!

Example

2008-06-17T20:32:00.007+02:00

Recently I have been a faithless blogger! Today however Pieter's blog inspired me to catch up again. I guess that the last six months generally can be charactarized by saying that I exchanged IGLYO for more personal-quality-in-life. I've been trying hard to work less, which slowly is paying-of.

In the past months I visited New York twice, most recently last week. Even though these trips were for professional reason, I must confess my profound love for this city! The traffic, the smell, the people, the weather: everything made me love the city.

Well, following Pieter's good example I above share photo's from nice locations that I've visited recently. Top-down: Ibiza, Moscow, Tirana, Geneva, New York and Salzburg. In all those places I reunited with old friends or met new wonderful people, so truly all moments to cherish.

This weekend I visited Dennis in Strasbourg. Together with Juul and Kris we spent two wonderful days together. We ate delicious food and strawled through the silent streets of the city. As Juul and I both are allergic to cat we had the nice chance of camping in Dennis garden.

Kickstart

2008-01-15T22:40:00.000+01:00

Last weekend the new IGLYO board visited Amsterdam for a handover board meeting. An amazing team - because they seemed still relax and happy after they discussed all the things coming up in the coming years...! I'm happy that the meeting took place - becuase now they can start with the real work, and I can take more distance from the work.

That is not a luxury - becuase the new year started with many new tasks. Increasingly I'm doing activities supporting the international policy development of COC NL - wonderful work! Next week I and Joyce will travel to NYC to further clarify our application for ECOSOC status to the NGO committee. Exciting, not only because this process has proven to be difficult for LGBT organisations in the past, but also because it's my very first time at the other side of the Atlantic! Those who read Dutch can follow our activities: http://www.publiek.coc.nl/weblog/.

Soon I will start a program with D66, my political party. The program will enable me to get to know better the party, as well to better understand the organisation of politics in the Netherlands. Exciting!

Happily I enjoyed a nice season break in Amsterdam, Munich and Salzburg!

The year of new opportunities!

2008-01-05T19:58:00.000+01:00

And suddenly it is already 2008. A short lookback on 2007.

From L to R and T to B: Goa - India; Amsterdam - Netherlands; Istanbul - Turkey; Goa - India; Bled - Slovenia; Bishkek mountains - Kyrgyzstan; Odessa - Ukraine; Cyprus; Malaga - Spain; Bombay - India; Pyrenees - Spain; Istanbul - Turkey.

IGLYO's new dream team

2007-12-10T17:52:00.000+01:00

Back home I try to look back on the last week. Four years suddenly feel like four months, or four weeks. I'm parting from something that shaped me so much - I'm happy, sad and proud at the same time.

A dream came true. IGLYO members adopted documents that will guide IGLYO into the future. A solid strategic plan, fresh statutes and new internal regulations and strong workplans for the coming three years were adopted on impressive consensus basis and with much support.

The educational guidelines were finished and debated. Representatives of COLEGAS, Fransesco de la Torre (mayor of Malaga) and Michael Cashman (chair of the LGBT intergroup in the European Parliament) came to opent he meeting.

And most important: a dream team was elected. I am confident that they will guide IGLYO further into its future.

Augustus, Bruno, Claire, Ilke, Lucy, Nanna and Simon: wishing you good luck!

So long IGLYO!

2007-12-09T12:24:00.000+01:00

Dear friends,

A little bit more than four years ago I traveled to Lisbon. For the first time in my life I went to a real conference, for the first time in my life somebody paid my ticket. I didn’t really know what to expect, except that I understood the topic of the conference was ‘pride’. We slept the whole week in a hostel and the conference took place in a small community centre in Lisbon. For me it was to become the most special week of my life. Back home I tried to explain what IGLYO had done with me – but it was so hard to explain. One week of spending time with like minded people – one week of full dedication and energy.

Now, four years later I stand in front of you here in Malaga to say goodbye. To say goodbye from an organization that has played such an important part of my life. I had the privilege to work for an organization that is very unique. Like many other people: I became a bit of IGLYO…and slowly IGLYO became also a little bit of me. After these days I have the full confidence, that IGLYO will continue to become a bit of you – and that is what the truth strength of IGLYO is: a youth organization that knows what it works for.

It was a conviction that I should do this work, that I should take on the challenge of supporting an organization which does not know much of it equals. The conviction however did not come from inside. It came from you. It came from stories of exclusion, stories of injustice, spoken by brave, courageous people – people whom when they got together develop magic amounts of energy.

Four years have passed away now – they feel like a few months. Many challenges we have faced, and many challenges will also remain. Our belief and your inspiration helped us reconstructing the organization to what we are today: a well respected partner in the field of European Youth affairs.

IGLYO can not do without its volunteers. In the past years I had the lucky opportunity to work with many. Too many to thank all in person, but a few I want to thank. In particular the people that I started working with: Ruth, Jasna and Jelena. Those who started with me in this board: Maxence and Beverley. Those who work with me now, and still bear with my endless demands: Fabio, Darren, Lucy and Bruno. For you I have a little present to remember this meeting.

But also I thank people from outside, whom helped me reflect and have given me assistance and inspiration when I needed that. Evelyne, Judit, Bettina and Dennis: without you this work would very likely not have been possible.

I believe there is a future for IGLYO. Many of the numerous activists that once were part of IGLYO are now part of other important human rights organizations. The strategic plans and the commitment that have been show during this meeting gives me hope for considerable work to be carried out in the coming years. The confidence and trust that are given to the new board are an important asset in that, and I hope that the new board will continue building partnerships and encourage cooperation with youth organizations, and other organizations. Together we stand strong.

But dear friends, it is also my duty to share with you also my concerns. The work pressure on a small group of volunteers is enormous. This small group of people is too often characterized by their Western-European citizenships. Activists from other regions of Europe are extremely occupied by running their local and national movements – often already as volunteers. This creates a geographical power imbalance which needs to be challenged. We can not continue letting go the great contributions that young people from all regions in Europe can make.

At the same time there continues to be a lack of resources. The potential opening of an office next year will slightly improve the work conditions of the preceeding board. But let’s not create an air bubble: one person will not be able to run the complete administration and carry out the organization of events. The amount of work continues to increase, and this needs to be tackled. You all have an important role in this. I believe that only by showing vision, unity and true leadership we can expect this support to increase in the coming years.

Many efforts have been made to raise IGLYO’s profile in the past years – to position IGLYO in such way that both the number of activities engaging members can grow, the policy development can improve and extend, as well the capacity to accept an increasing amount of important partnerships can be developed. This work has to continue. We have to react on the policy developments in the EU, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the UN, in order to create better standards for the realities of young people. We need to target our actions, and I am convinced that the new board will be helped by the existence of a strategic plan that will allos them to focus and target their energies.

But foremost, let’s not forget why we do this work. Our meetings have demonstrated repeatedly the unacceptable situation in which young LGBT people still find themselves daily. Why is the 14-year old Danny, living in a small village of the Netherlands, being criticized for being gay? Because many people in the Netherlands feel that at this age he can’t be sure about his sexual orientation yet. Self-determination is an important aspect of human rights principles that we need to advocate for.
Why is 19-year old Denise in Bulgaria forced to work and leave home? Because her parents wouldn’t take care of her anymore after she came out. We need to build project around intercultural and inter-religious dialogue – to ensure a better understanding of whom we are.
Why are numerous schools still refusing to discuss LGBT issues in their curricula, herewith contributing to social exclusion of LGBT young people? And when can these schools be kept accountable for the mental damage that they herewith cause? When can these schools be kept accountable for the isolation that they cause, isolation sometimes leading to suicide?

And then I do not speak even about the situation of young people elsewhere in the world. IGLYO is the only international LGBTQ Youth organization of this seize world wide. Why? Because we have it relatively good. Let’s not forget that. Let’s not forget that we carry a responsibility towards the situation of LGBTQ young people elsewhere in the world.

Dear friends, I must say that saying goodbye hurts. It helps to know that there is a new competent and enthusiastic board waiting to take over. I want to wish the new board a lot of luck with their work, I am confident that they will further guide IGLYO in the directions that we are needed to go. I have two little presents that should give some luck to the next board. I hope they will stay with IGLYO, and that the new board will give these presents to the new board.

One present is from Darren, Fabio and me. It’s a mirror for the new office, so that we can always remember whom we are working for. \

The other present is something more personal. It is a piece of the homo-monument in Amsterdam. A place where I often go to eat a sandwich for lunch. The triangle next to the Westerchurch in Amsterdam represents past, present and future. It commemorates those that became victim of who they are. In the summer tourists rest on the monument without knowing what the monument is – it makes it just a part of the environment. There is a text on the monument which still is a dream to so many young lgbt people in the world, it reads ‘to friendship, such an endless longing’.

It provided me with much inspiration, hope and perspective. I hope this piece of stone will bring the same to you.

Dear friends, thank you for all the great work and experiences in the past years. I wish you all the best for your future work and hope to be able to continue working with many of you.

So long, IGLYO!

Something inside so strong

2007-12-09T12:06:00.000+01:00

The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The further you take my rights away
The faster I will run

You can deny me
You can decide to turn your face away
No matter 'cause there's ...
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it

Though you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone... oh noT
here's something inside so strong
Something inside so strong

The more you refuse to hear my voice
The louder I will sing
You hide behind walls of Jericho
Your lies will come tumbling
Deny my place in time
You squander wealth that's mine
My light will shine so brightly it will blind you

Because there's ...

Brothers and sisters
When they insist we're just not good enough
Well, we know better
Just look 'em in the eyes and say
We're gonna do it anyway
We're gonna do it anyway ...

because there's...

To change

2007-12-04T00:54:00.000+01:00

These weeks are a bit awkward. Friday the General Meeting of Members start - for IGLYO a next step into a promising future. A considerable amount of members will gather to discuss on the future directions of the organisation. An exciting moment.... and I'm quite confident that the future of IGLYO will look well, looking at the candidates that stand for elections.

For me it's the end of an important but crazy ride in my life. Being involved with IGLYO did change my life a lot... and working towards this meeting feels like going to leave something of myself behind. I will do considerably less youth work, and that will feel strange. But foremost I will miss working with all these great people that I've met in the past years.

But it will also bring positive changes to me. Time to spend more time with friends in the Netherlands, time to go to the gym, time to study French and time to be lazy.

Statutes

2007-11-14T22:58:00.000+01:00

A while ago I and Cristian visited the Museum Beelden aan Zee in Scheveningen. Tom Otterness has a fixed exhibition at the sea side, called Miracles at Sea. The displayed statutes are adorable -which represent fairy tales. Scheveningen beach is already a nice place to be (I spent many wonderful years working at the Northern part of the beach) - but this exhibition makes it an even better experience.

Back to school

2007-11-12T20:01:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago I attended a reunion at my high school in Amersfoort. My high-school period was a time of mixed feelings: experiencing nasty treats of freaked pupils during my first year, but meeting many friends in consecutive years. Looking back my time at the Farel college overall was very nice.

Schools are strange places to be, they take such a decissive role in shaping our lives. During the first year I sometimes had sink in my shoes when entering the schoolyard. I looked up to the popular groups of smoking and swearing young people, often terrorizing the environment for those who did not fit their vision on reality. They led to a seperation of groups of young people, the popular and the not so popular. And so it turned that my best friend from primary school ended up in the popular club, and I ended up in the impopular club. To keep up his own reputation he then had to kick me during the terribly ritual week openings (I attended a Christian school), pretending that he did that as I reaction to me beating him. It made me want to stay at home.

In the second year it seemed that people gave up their ideas on belonging to a certain group. Their identies became increasingly constructed on rather individual characteristics, moving away from common group values which made it necessary to harass individuals that they could not identify with. It removed my fears and opened space for me to develop myself, while sticking to my own identity and not having to act cool anymore.

Slowly I started enjoying school. Slowly those who had been popular once, started to become impopular. I became secure, they remained uncertain. Then I started participating in school bodies, participating in a Bertolt Brecht play and organising school parties. All was I think very perfect than, except from one thing: I did not dare to come out. Where others started responding to their puberty needs, I was confused about my own feelings. There was no possible way of me coming out the closet, I did not experience school as a place to do so.

At the reunion I saw a lot of people that I didn't see for a long time. It was somehow a bit strange. It was nice to see some people again, but it was strange to experience that teachers -whom I experienced as having played an important role in my development - did not even remember your name anymore.

Below a picture with Kees - whom I see way too little!

Morning dew

2007-11-08T07:54:00.000+01:00

When the streets are still empty and dew is covering the fields. I have always enjoyed the morning silence. The morning can be like a little secret - a state-of-art that you do not have to share with all those people that are still sleeping. The nature awakes a bit earlier than I tend to do - but is in such beautiful peace at morning.

The last days I woke up early naturally - probably as a result of changing my clock a few times throughout the past week.

Reflection

2007-11-06T21:14:00.000+01:00

The last weeks are extremely busy - little time for reflections! But I have enjoyed these weeks extremely... they've been inspiring and charged me for the last weeks of the year to come. Some Cypriotic reflection I captured that I can't stop looking at below!

If I were a poet

2007-11-06T21:05:00.000+01:00

I would live my life with words
Rephrase the sense of being
Understand vocabular of love
Listen songs of sadness
I would live my life with words
Just
If I were a poet

Street lights

2007-11-03T16:02:00.001+01:00

The past week I've attended the ILGA-Europe annual conference in Vilnius. It was a good conference, with interesting speakers and a lot of useful new contacts. Smoke bombs in a bar next to the conference venue late at night were less nice. But, unfortunately for the perpetrators, less impressive. A bit of smoke does not spoil the evening of group of activists that knows what its working for. The protest outside of the conference venue was also not very impressive compared to the discussions that were going on at the same time inside of the venue.

After Vilnius I traveled to Kyrgyzstan. I visited our (COC's)partner organisation Labrys - which is doing an incredible deal of work in Bishkek. With a taxi we moved on to Talas, a city with 40.000 inhabitants, no street ligths available - and poor sanitary conditions. Work is only seasonal - leaving many people in the winter to alcohol only. Charactarized by a very strong family tradition the youngest child of each family is expected to take care of the parents. A society in which it is terribly difficult for LGBT people to live.

It took as a flat tire to reach Talas - getting to Almaty afterwards resulted in a broken engine, leaving us at the highway. Fortunately two Kazakhs were friendly enough to drop us of at our hotel - reaching comfort which suddenly made me feel spoiled.

So here I sit - in the lobby of the Kazakhstan hotel, updating my blog. Another day before going home. Tonight it's time to explore some of the local scene, which -yes- does exist.

Málaga

2007-10-23T11:13:00.000+02:00

I am in the beautiful city of Málaga - after a productive board meeting I today spend here my last day finalising some work. Overwhelming is the friendliness of the people here. It is the hairdresser that really took time to do my hair and have a nice chat, not letting me leave the hairshop without a present (which was very welcome considering that my luggage still hasn't arrived...). Also the hotel staff that does everything to make you feel at home, and the local people we are working with to prepare our General Meeting of Members make me look forward to returning here in December. . Probably it has to do something with the climate: it feels like spring weather.... The idea of travelling to the North of Europe tomorrow doesn't help a lot in getting ready to leave this nice city.

Earlier this year: Minsk

2007-08-05T17:18:00.000+02:00

"Only in Belarus will you feel as if the Cold War never ended. Although getting a visa isn’t a problem, the government isn’t crazy about foreign influences and encourages xenophobia with all-pervasive propaganda,” writes Lonely Planet about the country. I could have better left the book at home. Reading it in the airplane in order to truly appear as a tourist – and not an IGLYO board member – the last sentence didn’t ease me: “Hide this book.” Information is extremely controlled in Belarus; each publication has to be tested by the Ministry of Information. And custom officers do not hesitate to take away your Lonely Planet if they want so.

Last August IGLYO board met in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, for its quarterly board meeting. Our mission was to touch base with the live of young LGBT activists in Belarus, the last dictatorship in Europe. One of the very few countries in the region which is not a member of the Council of Europe as it still practices death punishment. Not many organizations choose to gather in this country, but choose to support civil society in Belarus in another way. Understandable, since several youth workers and political representatives have been rejected entrance to the country in the past years. Our fears were needless. All of us were granted visas without any problems. Passing the boarders happened probably smoother than in any other country I have visited.

Suddenly we found ourselves in Minsk. As agreed there was Slava Sementsov, from our member organization TEMA in Gomel waiting for us. Slava proved to be the perfect host throughout the rest of the weekend, sharing with us the invisible aspects of the country.

We were prepared for grey streets, gloomy post-Sovjet squares, cheerless people, little welfare end a regime being somehow visible at every corner of every street. But the Minsk we saw had nothing of that at all. The contrast seemed big. Prosperity, welfare, happy looking people walking on wide avenues surrounded by stylish classical buildings. The ruling suppression not being visible at all. Solely stories of people would tell you the truth behind the big mask covering this country.

We did not expect to see any public LGBT life. But again it wasn’t what we expected. Contrary. Whereas Lonely Planet writes about a public governmental repression of LGBT people, Belarusian activists talk about their country as being one of the most tolerant in post-Sovjet space and a slow but nevertheless sensible change in regards to LGBT acceptance and visibility. There is no active repression of LGBT groups, the government even has opened dialogue with community representatives in the framework of an HIV/Aids project. At the same time: gay prides were organized in Minsk in 2000 and 2001, without any significant problems. And indeed, Minsk knows a gay-club and some LGBT meeting spaces. Well, LGBT is not the accurate expression, since the LGBT community consists mostly of G and less L.

(with thanks to IGLYO board)

Art time

2007-07-28T22:55:00.000+02:00

My absolute number one favourite museum is the Joán Miro museum in Parc de Montjuïc, Barcelona. Foremost I admire the architecture of the building which has been built on one of the most beautiful areas of the city. I have visited the museum three times now, and it always makes me calm and brings me in an ecstastic mood. The grand white spaces breathe an athmosphere of purity and calmness. Opposite of many other museums where I always want to hurry myself through exhibitions, the Miro museum makes me want to be there for many hours.

Currently there are two special exhibitions which are both fascinating. A broad variety of Sean Scully's work is shown. Scully is an Irish artist who works with oil paintings, pastels, watercolours, prints and photographs, all abstract work with a fascinating combination of colours and lines.

The other fascinating project was the rather more moder work of Qubo Gas. Colourful landscapes which are created through a group process of three French artists. Visit their website!

Holiday heroes therarpy

2007-07-25T23:45:00.000+02:00

This morning I woke up in the quietness of an idyllic fisherman village looking out over the Adriatic sea. I finished the biography of Nelson Mandela, after reading Gandhi during my previous holidays yet another humble servant of women and men to a nation that went through so much sacrifice for achieving only equality. It was here where my holiday also came to an end. Would I have known before that the works of these men have a revatilising power then earlier holidays would have looked differently.

Having spent two wonderful weeks with wonderful friends both in Barcelona (Sant Feliu de Llobregat to be more precisely) and Ljubljana I now have returned to Amsterdam to resume my duties with new energy.

2007-07-12T23:44:00.000+02:00

A few hectic weeks behind me. I attended the massive Euro pride in Madrid, together with almost 2 million other people. The Cologne pride also was very impressive, not only for its political message, but moreover for the merge of local citizens with the LGBT community whom were partying together. This afternoon I got a glimpse of the EuroGames, parallel to this big LGBT sport event Wel Jong Niet Hetero organised a very good youth conference. Powerful events - and they are organised in solidarity with prides as those held in Istanbul and Budapest (where numerous people severely have been beaten up).

In between much work at the office. Colleagues abroad, sick or on holidays, whilst we're already undermanned. A team-building session - which of course are never meant to be peaceful and silent.

And then stories out the lives of many dear friends, which make the every day office hectics so irrelevant. Just those few things in life we would like to control mostly - we cannot control.

Tonight I am finishing some last work before my break to Barcelona and Slovenia.

A letter of a friend

2007-07-12T23:32:00.000+02:00

"The pride week which was organised by Lambda Istanbul came to the end with a magnificant final. Istiklal street was painted colours of rainbow flag. it was the biggest march in Turkey with the most participation we have ever seen. Some people watched as with bewildered eyes, some didn't want to be contended with watching but also applauded and some joined our slogans as well. t was a honour to be in Istiklal street, holding the big rainbow flag and to be able to scream that we shouldn't be silent. t was a day which already took the part in the LGBT history in Turkey. I've been in Gay Pride Marches in european countries several times, it made me feel free to be there but something was missing for me. But Istanbul... Istiklal Street... it had something more sense to be there and also was emotional as much as meaningful. In our country, with our language, we were telling our people that we are here and we won't be silent anymore. At the beginning, while we were preparing for the march there were some people from us watching us from far but then I realized that they joined the march in few minutes. Was it possible not to impress the scene? was it possible be indifferent to this athmosphere? and not to wish to be a part of this magnificent event! Our feelings met in a common point and we became a unique heart in Istiklal Street. I really felt what the Pride's meaning! We were just 1.000 people there, I know it's nothing comparing with the march in European countries, but I felt that we, all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Turkey were there. We all felt so strong ourselves while we were screaming as "don't be silent, scream, we are here"

Ismail

Lost in administration and the big human rights quiz

2007-06-28T22:27:00.000+02:00

A hectic day. It started at the office where I together with the administrator worked on finances. I learned two lessons in the past years about bookkeeping. 1: always make the administrator your best friend, becuase you can't do without them. 2: every administrator has a completely own way of working and want to administer everything in a completely different way.
The Netherlands doesn't have a lunch-culture, mostly we eat a sandwich behind our desk. But I went for a quick lunch with Juul (great bagels!) and we talked about her experiences with the OSCE - an organisation that still is rather exclusive to certain discrimination grounds. Interesting input and I will discuss this further tomorrow with another civil society representative.

In the afternoon I visited the farewell reception of the Dutch Human Rights embassador. For his farewell the quiz 1 against 100 was organised, I didn't bring it far as I didn't know whether 4 or 10 country rapporteurs had been appointed in the UN council since June 19th.... (10 is the right answer!). An interesting ocassion to learn more about the UN work on Human Rights and the importance of Special Procedures, and of course about the work of our embassador.

A European Treaty and the Teletubbies

2007-06-27T23:26:00.000+02:00

During the negotations last weekend on the EU-treaty some countries managed to drop issues out of their own EU shopping trolley. The Fundamental Right Charter, which for cosmetic reason was already thrown out of the Treaty and only referred to, became subject to undressing by member states. Despite Tony Blair was probably already busy with the preparations of his visit to the Pope right after the gathering, he still managed to position UK laws on Union rights being binding before EU legislation in this field, in the UK.

Poland then realised that exceptions can also be created for areas that are important for them. They proposed something that informally was called the Teletubby-proposal; it wanted binding legislation saying that the Fundamental Rights Charter could not affect the right of member states to legislate in the sphere of public morality and family law, as well as the protection of human dignity and respect for human physical and moral integrity. For some strange reason other member states cynically rejected this idea, hence it became a unilateral declaration, which happily will have little legal power.

Happy Sunday

2007-06-27T00:59:00.000+02:00

Boris van der Ham (Member of the Democrat Party of the Dutch Parliament -D66) was honoured 'EuroNetherlander' of the year last Sunday, I was honoured young Dutch European citizen of the year. The elections were a nice initiative to promote Europe in a positive way. Besides that I'm of course happy that this election is a recognition of the need for LGBT youth issues to be on the centre of the European agenda - and for this sake I will also use the title.

I am very grateful to Rogier Elshout - the EU representative of the Dutch Youth council, who not only nominated me, but also lobbied for me, despite he was nominated himself. His work bring Europe to the core of the lives of Young Dutch Citizens should also be honoured!
Photo: www.pitchit.nl

EUrophobia or EUrogloria

2007-06-22T19:57:00.000+02:00

EU leaders are currently still strugling in Brussels to find the way forward for the European Union. Some say: we shouldn't have a flag or an anthem; the Fundamental Rights charter shouldn't be legally binding; we shouldn't have a new (democratic) voting system; we shouldn't have one Foreign Minister.

The Netherlands doesn't want that the document will be called 'constitution', there shouldn't be a flag or anthem and there shouldn't be a reference to the primacy of EU law. This makes our demands purely cosmetic. Just because political leaders haven't been able to convey the need of a strong EU a few years ago, they now bring a deceptive message to their own constituency.

I believe that a strong EU is needed not only to safeguard economic growth, moreover to guarantee a healthy, wealthy and prosperous society with a equal place for each citizen and with respect to the world that we live in. It is needed to work on such endeauvours together, not in the last place because single member states' capacity to have a healthy and competitive place in the world economy lack any potential for success. We need to build together, and building together requires a clear common understanding of values. Albeit social, cultural or economic values, albeit human rights values or foreign policy values. A legal framework in which such values can be established is therefore essential. Creating common values is not established at EU-top, it is a journey that shall continue as long as our Union will exist.

Today I was elected Young Dutch European Citizen of the Year, and I'm very proud of that. Working with young people in Europe inspires me because young people have such tremendous energy in trying to understand each other, in building on the common project of the European Union.

Hate crime

2007-06-22T19:30:00.000+02:00

I Amsterdam?

2007-06-13T00:55:00.000+02:00

Tonight I learned that Amsterdam is the biggest internet hub in the world, holds the 9th place on the list of cities with biggest airports in the world, is the fastest growing city where cruise-ships board new passengers, but has the lowest possible ambition when it comes to developing itself into a metropole. That's at least what the deputy-director of the city council's town planning office thinks. And now he is trying to move politicans in more visionary metropole development policies.

It is true that the current development plans do not meet the needs for fast-growing economy, nor that there's a good enough vision in general in the Netherlands to challenge the fast growing economies in the world that soon will become competitors for our service-based, mainport-based and distribution oriented country. Such vision also lacks at the European level. We want to be the most knowledgeable and competetive economy in the world, at least that's what they say. I also want it, but I miss sufficient tools to realise this.

Our Dutch Cabinet is foremost concerned with the lack of support to EU, and instead of promoting it it tries to negotiate a weaker EU, with less competence to be competetive, and with less competence to promote human rights. When our little country would look into the mirror it would soon see that this country is too little to carry responsibilities that we are nowadays facing all alone. But mirrors can be frightening.

Back to Amsterdam. It is so nice to see politics at a local level every now and then, maybe becuase things get concrete much easier. It concerns the environment which you see every day. I hope that the city council is a bit more visionary and tries to take up some leadership. The plans I heard tonight are good for the city's development as well for the environment in general (though I didn't like the idea of having an enourmous amount of ferries bringing people accross the city - all development needs to be sustainable!).

No time to waste

2007-06-11T20:04:00.000+02:00

Sometimes I feel like being a weak compromise between being ultimate lazy, and being super-active. After I came back from Central-Asia I planned my agenda full enough not to be able to recover from a small jetlag (which I thought I wouldn't have). Consequense was that I have been a bit grumpy during the last week whilst being in Brussel and London. This morning I slept until PM - and now I feel ready to face the business this week again.

My business is caused by a feeling of 'no time to waste', the feeling that I need to get everything possible out of life, not tomorrow but now. At the same time I'm actually a very lazy person. Anyhow, consequence is that time flies. Via facebook I met an old friend from Australia, she send this picture which was made seven years ago in London (Kees, Julie and Danielle are on it). I just love facebook!

Thunder!

2007-05-27T19:56:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I arrived in Bishkek after a three hour drive from Almaty. It was a beautiful ride through mountains and fields. The air here is a little bit less filthy, hence I can breathe fresh air again and the terrible cold that has pestered me is now slowly dissapearing. The visit to Kazakhstan was very inspiring - met many nice and couregeous people taking good initatives.

Today we had a free day and I went for lunch with a colleague from a Dutch development cooperation whom I very coincidentally bumped into at the reception of my previous hotel...it's a small world after all. After sun-bathing this morning next to the swimming-pool, suddenly clouds surrended us and it started to rain and thunder. We sat down to have a lunch outside under a covered terrace when the lightning struck right beside us in a metal pole... this made a lot of noise and made us jump from our seats...

Kazakhstan

2007-05-20T18:36:00.000+02:00

I am on my way to Almaty, on my way to a country of which existence I almost was not aware until a few years ago. A country in which the electorate yesterday decided that its president will be president for life – a country in which the its president faces almost no resistance. A country in which horse-head can be tabled, a country which still practices death-penalty and a country with the biggest amount of nuclear waste in the world. But Kazakhstan also has the fastest growing economy in the region (9-10% per year), ecologic-programs, and is aiming to chair the OSCE from 2009 onwards.
I am happy that I didn't see Borat yet, just not to have a completely subjective view on the country. And I’m looking forward to learn about the country!

The discourse of energy supplies and human rights

2007-05-11T12:02:00.000+02:00

Being Dutch and probably exemplary for what poldering is myself I am a great believer of silent advocacy. However – there is one thing that is greatly frustrating about silent advocacy: that it’s silent. West-European’s dependency on energy suppliers such as for instance Russia or resources in the Middle East are in many cases creating an obvious vacuum to social and human rights which we strive for. It is clear that countries want to become less depending from such suppliers, but which steps are they actually taking in this regard?

Next week I will be visiting Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The first country is increasingly an independent energy supplier, which for obvious geographical reasons is still depending on Russia for distribution. Kazakhstan is aiming at chairing the OSCE (Organization for Security Cooperation Europe) from 2009 onwards. Several EU member states are supportive to this, merely for economical reasons. Others are not, obviously for more social reasons. Netherlands is supportive, and is currently the second biggest investor in the country, having setup a variety of trade-missions. Through a long-term empowerment program we have in addition been enabled to build-up LGBT organizations to fight against the rising hiv/aids epidemic and strive for better social rights.

Now I do believe that economical opportunities seize chances to combine profitable economic projects with demands for better social rights. Let’s call it social-economic synergy. But it is frustrating how invisible such processes are – as they make it difficult to call for additional measures, or even set certain conditions. Of course, human rights can never only be the change that a country gives for economic profits – as I believe that a true implementation of social rights and human rights needs a sincere believe and understanding of their applicable discourses. But incentives do open doors, raise awareness and demonstrate respect to the principles and values of social and human rights that we ought to consider minimal to each person in this world.

As an ideologist I do believe that maybe next to the daily stock rates we should measure our wellbeing with daily ‘happiness’ indexes. As a pragmatist I do also believe that different sets of indicators will increase the willingness to start working on political change that is socially need based instead of power policy driven. Another interesting barometer would of course be understandable and challenging emission indexes – but that's another story.

Future

2007-05-05T20:21:00.000+02:00

This weekend we are visiting Skeiv Ungdom, an IGLYO member organisation in Norway. At the board meeting that we organise here we are discussing how the future of IGLYO can be developed, a process we have recently started. For the first time members will have a major role in the development of a strategic plan, which will be organised through a membership consultation process. For me it feels strange but also good. On one side I know that I will not be involved in this future as I shall be leaving IGLYO the end of this year, on the other hand I have the full confidence that IGLYO shall further develop in the coming years.

Oslo is a beautiful city I can judge from the little we saw of it. After two days of hard working, and a crazy week in Istanbul and Amsterdam, we're now preparing for a dinner in the city and discovering Oslo a little bit at night.

Bloody May Day

2007-05-01T16:48:00.000+02:00

Hundreds of Turks aimed to assemble today at Taksim (the main city square) to commemorate the deaths that fell thirty year ago when during a same protest the police killed 34 of them. Civil society largely gathered, but didn't succeed in a holding a peaceful manifestation as the police dispersed them. This didn't happen in a friendly way: water canons and tear gas were used through the thousands and thousands of police men that gathered. According to the protesters also peper spray was used.

Currently I am in Turkey for a meeting and hence experienced how the civil society was opressed by the police in their strive for better working conditions. The current political tensions in the country apparently made the authorities afraid that the protest (of mostly politically left demonstrants) could evoke in a violent meeting. For this reason the demonstration was forbidden - a legal demonstration took place at the other side of Istanbul (and also in Ankara).

Whilst heading to the headquarters of LambdaIstanbul I had to cross Taksim square. My first attempt failed immediately as I inhaled tear gas and was therefore forced to leave the square. The second attempt was succesful - but whilst we head into the main road protesters gathered exactly in the street where our meeting was supposed to be. Standing in between the crowd we had to run for the police and again inhaled tear gas. I didn't know the effects of this gas - but it gives a horrible feeling in your longs, makes you cry and breating becomes difficult. This is apparently how democracy can be controlled.

Yesterday evening Erdogan called for unity in the society. His speech was supported by pictures of new schools and roads which were built under his leadership.

You would expect the Turkish government to look for constructive ways to enable civil society to assemble instead of using such unnecessary violence.

Back again

2007-04-21T22:33:00.000+02:00

It is true: I haven't blogged much lately. Now that I have a new laptop that functions properly I should be blogging more again. It means that I've been able to reinstall my iTunes and reinstalled my iPod which wasn't working well the last weeks. Also I've been able to download some more pictures of India. Additionally I have just reorganised my files. It gives me such a happy feeling.

Retrospecively

2007-03-28T17:57:00.000+02:00

Shortly I will be back with more present.

Philantrophic dreams

2007-03-27T20:20:00.000+02:00

A few weeks ago I discovered splendid India. Never before I saw a country in which such a big contrast between prosperous citizens and the penniless people. It sounds like a cliché, but I truly did not expect to see kilometres of slums alongside long roads. How humiliating it must be - if you are sick and you are taken care of laying literally on the road. No trace of dignity when the rich organise their parties in the most expensive hotels just next to these slums.

Maybe it is therefore that many tourists return back to their countries wearing orange sari's, carrying a stray gaze in their eyes. India is one of the most literate places in the world- and book prices are astonishing cheap. Hence I found my escape from the painful reality in reading Gandhi's auto-biography, and learning in another about how a new generation of philantrophists now spends its time on social entrepreneuring in countries such as India. It made me think how high time it is for our societies to start developing lists of top philantrophists, instead of the longlists of how prosperous a small amount of people is. Philantrophy should become the new social criterion for wellbeing.

The holiday was a real break - nothing only learning about the Indian culture, but also enjoying beautiful beaches and drinking fresh coconut milk. But still I haven't forgotten about the slums, and wonder whether if it's fair to blame the rich in India for the poverty in their country instead of blaming myself.

The dog, the chain and me

2007-03-27T00:38:00.000+02:00

Tonight I recollected a childhood memory. When going to walk with our dog Spun I used to handover leadership to her. She would take the chain in her mouth which I would tie up to my pants. She took me to places I would not visit normally - long walks through clumps of trees and over long stretches of grass. Spun and I had a strong confidence in each other - after a while she would drop the chain for more interesting experiences, being sure I would not walk away. When chaining her I would be confident she would not walk away. A confidence that should be reversed I considered when being young. I did not realise then how unfair and undemocratic leadership was limiting the potentials of the world, if not harming it. She died on the very first day I went to high-school.

And the need for such confidence is nothing special - but uncommon for leaders in general. Yesterday young people gathered for a European Youth Summit in Rome. We stood in the footsteps of grand leaders who created the foundations of a project uniting Europe fifty years ago. Presenting our thoughts for a future with more prosperity, security and dignity, and emphazising the indispensable need for a stable, sustainable and equal future for all.

European leaders showed confidence in the future leaders - showed willingness to listen to their youth, but did not make promises to turn-around the chain for once. They already promised the legacy of a yet not realized dream of a democratic world which is environmentally sustainable. But they also offered the legacy of a democtratic and quite stable Europe, whilst happily living in Peace and prosperity. Their promised legacy seems somewhat premature: it's like promising your grandchildren a legacy of honor but also financial debts. Promising but not yet convincing enough, and I hope that our current European leaders will show a true commitment the coming years to challenge the true problems we are facing together.

I believe that a commitment of showing confidence in the union, a commitment to living-up to the values and principles that were once settled and which we continue to build. A commitment for perspective, which does not end at our politically defined domains. This is what we should keep each other accountable for - as demonstration of accountability for values and principles enlarges the trust and believe in a future Europe.

There is a little Jamie in all of us

2007-01-06T23:37:00.000+01:00

This is my little kitchen where I have spent quite a lot of time recently. I can really enjoy cooking, with ingredients in all its colors and flavors. Sometimes I cook following a receipt, but I prefer to freestyle. Today I bought a bass (sea fish) which I cooked in the oven together with potatoes and vegetables. Yummy! It is so exciting, after having barely used my kitchen during the past year. Travelling and cooking simply doesn't go together very well.
Spending time in the kitchen makes me calm. It makes you aware of what you are eating (contrary to the microwave food I often consume), and it makes you enjoy your meal much more. Microwave meals are eaten behind your laptop or television. But if I cook I eat in peace.

Hence I can not understand that people do not enjoy cooking. I believe there is a little Jamie in all of us.

2006 in a nutshell

2006-12-30T20:35:00.000+01:00

A year of meeting many new people, of whom some became great friends. A year in which we were more than ever confronted with the effects that the changing climate is bringing us. A year in which I attempted to start working out on my body again. A year in which leaders of democratic societies suddenly spoke positive about death sentence. A year of hard working, sometimes leading to great results, sometimes leading to big frustrations. A year in which gay rights globally were more and more recognised as fundamental human rights. A year of visiting new countries and meeting new cultures. A year of loosing trust in Dutch politics. A year of falling in love and sometimes loosing hope.

xmas & flu

2006-12-27T19:45:00.000+01:00

I have been spending over two weeks in Amsterdam now, first finishing work before holidays, then enjoying days off... Christmas I partly spent with my family in Amersfoort, and partly with friends. Yesterday, on second Christmas day I got a cold developing into a flue, hence I've spent today at home.... A bit frustrating as I had been looking forward to be doing things during these holidays. So it's time to go to bed... and I hope to feel much better tomorrow!

Positive mental health

2006-12-06T17:49:00.000+01:00

And it's already the third day of our conference in Riga! I've learned a lot in these days, e.g. to understand what Positive mental health means, and we also see how bit the differences in mental health care providers in different countries actually are. It is a really nice week with great participants.
People start getting very tired already, as the many discussions continue during the evenings and nights and there's, a now, obvious lack of sleep amongst many of us. Hence the participants have introduced something new to IGLYO's history: an alcohol evening... As alcohol is an important form of self-harm amongst LGBT people I think it is good that we are considering that this tonight.

Soldiers with fears

2006-11-29T22:15:00.000+01:00

It felt like I left home this morning, but in fact I've been travelling a week now.

My journey started in Podgorica, where we organised a first meeting with a new group of gays - unfortunately no lesbians yet. Everybody was very excited and eager to start organising themselves. After that I gave a lecture for the local Human Rights school. People told that we (a colleague from Serbia joined me) were the first gays that they ever saw in real life. It was an interesting experience, people were very curious and eager to learn. A representative of a women NGO's expressed that the masculine and patriarchal society will need a lot of time to overcome homophobia. She spoke about the Montenegrin soldiers. We can only hope that Montenegrin soldiers overcome their phobia and behave like real soldiers whom don't deal with fears for other people.

Friday morning I had a meeting with representatives of the Ministry responsible for police, together with a representative from an international organisation responsible for security. They noted that there are no known cases of homophobia. That's not strange, becuase Montenegro doesn't opress minorities that much, according them. Also Montenegro would have very few rape cases, men would pay so much respect to women that they would not consider raping them!!

Afterwards I spent a nice weekend at the coast of Montengro. Those moments I learn so much on how it really is to live your life in secrecy, how a society not accepting you can completely shape your life towards heteronormative standards. It really hurts to see how it affects people.

Monday morning I got a lift to Tirana. My companion only spoke Serbian, Albanian and Arabic, so we had an interesting three hours. The roads between the South of Montenegro and Tirana are so beautiful. Small roads taking you through mountains, with many cows and chickens on the way. We passed Skodahr, where you'll find small open markets all along the roads, and many people on bicycles, which made me feel being at home of course. In Tirana the traffic was one big mess, at a certain point we were not driving on the road anymore but on the left side off the road, trying to pass the traffic jam. In the middle of the traffic smoke a pig was slaughtered. Later that afternoon I guy severely got beaten up by a group of people in front of my eyes, I was unable to do anything which frustrated me.

Now I arrived in Pristina. Am here for only one day. It is interesting to see groups of activists growing in all countries. At the same time I so much understand the difficult situations in which they are working. Donors trying to push them to deliver results, but at the same time the activists undertaking the work (often voluntarily) have to deal with their personal issues too. The beginning of this year a young gay guy was beaten up by straight people here in Kosovo. Due to his faced opression he became addicted to drugs (likewise many other young people in Albania and Kosovo unfortunately do). A few weeks ago he died of an overdose. Such issues affect young activists, as they stand powerless.

100

2006-11-22T23:47:00.000+01:00

Blog number hundred was supposed to be a festive one, but I am afraid you will have to cope with my grumpy mood. I am at Belgrade airport, waiting for my connecting flight to Podgorica. The schedule of JAT doesn’t correspond with the schedule of my travel agency, and as a result I have to wait over four hours for a connection. The signs indicating that Belgrade Airport now has WLAN do not mean that you can actually access the internet. All this wouldn’t have been that bad if my morning would have started good. But this was not the case.

First I fulfilled my civil obligations by voting for our new parliament.

Then I took the tram to the other side of Amsterdam to collect money at the bank for the coming IGLYO conference. Which due many bureaucratic rules about which we were not informed was not possible!!! Crisis in Amsterdam this morning.

Sergeant Leonard Matlovich

2006-11-20T20:51:00.000+01:00

Bad, bad computer!!

2006-11-20T20:37:00.000+01:00

Wednesday we have elections in Netherlands. To be honest: it's such a circus that I'm barely following it. All discussions seem so far from reality to me. Today I found a leaflet from the creep above in my postbox. One of his election statements is that he will forbid women to wear headscarfs if they are civil cervants of teachers. Also he wouldn't allow new mosques and regulate old mosques. People like him and it makes me said. Actually I wish that all men whom look like this creature were forced to wear headscarfs so that we don't have to look at them.

Anyhow, in one of the most busy weeks of the year my laptop treathens me to give up... Grrrr. I know I should talk bad words about it here as it might even stop working promtly, so let's change subject.

This weekend I spend a very peaceful weekend in Brussels. I really like the city and we've been doing cultural things such as visiting a party full of bald, middle-aged, often-under-influence-of-chemicals men. Very interesting. I also saw a African soul-concert and yesterday I went to the movies. For me the ultimate preparation for the upcoming weeks of travelling.

50 year

2006-11-13T09:39:00.000+01:00

Next year the EU celebrates its 50th anniversary. This will happen by celebrations in many different countries. The Commission has taken the initiative to design a logo, which will be different in each member states. Now, even before the party started, Member States are complaining that they have not been consulted about the logo. The French are complaining that all these different logo's fail to symbolize EU's unity. I wonder whether they prefer to have only the logo below, giving up the French one... now that would be real unity .

Amsterdam at night

2006-11-05T17:06:00.000+01:00

It's a few weeks later. Autumn is filled with activitities, there are only a few days that I spent at home in October and November. I've been seeing many good old friends and I've been meeting great new ones lately. Have finished an project application of almost two thumbs thick for a project in Turkey early this week. This weekend was the first and the last in this period to rest a little bit.

So I visited Kees and Marianne in Groningen, together with Jeroen. Groningen is in the very north of the Netherlands, and it smells like sugar beets in the streets. Kees and Marianne are renovating the house that they bought, a project for which I have respect but would never even consider doing myself. Spending a year in dust and in between building materials is something I wouldn't be able to cope with! But fair enough: the first results of their work are great!

Yesterday I went to the museum night in Amsterdam: all museums, but also the zoo, was open at night. We saw sleeping animals and animals that barely sleep at all, which was actually quite exciting! The guide told us for instance that every year a wild male stork returns to his partner, whom lives in the zoo, to fertilize her.

This week I'm up to the Baltic states, for the general assembly of the youth forum.

And the leafs stay!

2006-10-19T23:46:00.000+02:00

This year it takes unusually long for threes to loose their leaves. Because we had such a nice summer. Finland was already getting yellow, brown and golden colors on its threes. Also in London a few weeks ago the leaves were already falling. But now the year will pass by so quickly, with all upcoming events. I will first travel to Budapest tomorrow, where I'll have a short break before a meeting and a conference in Sofia. Hope to see green threes there!

Poverty and Social Exclusion

2006-10-14T19:05:00.000+02:00

Tomorrow I leave for Finland, to attend the Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion, which is organised by the Finnish presidency. The interesting thing is that the presidency paid over thousand euro's for my ticket, to attend a meeting in which we'll talk about poverty. Anyhow, our aim is to address the link between vulnerable grous /discrimination and social exclusion, which will be a big challenge. My visit to Montenegro gave me good inspiration for this. A Montenegrin boy of 25 told me why he consciously decided to remain closeted towards his parents. Coming out would mean that he probably would be forced to leave his family home, disabling him to finish his university and thus having big consequenses for his further personal and professional development.

And it's the first time that I visit Scandinavia, I'm almost ashamed to say this!

Ramadan

2006-10-14T18:57:00.000+02:00

Wednesday I spent a beautiful day in Ulcinj visiting a friend. The weather was beautiful and such a contradiction with the weather in Amsterdam: I got even a bit tanned during my walk along the Adriatic sea. The one-day break was of course much too short, unfortunately I had to hurry home for waiting deadlines .
As I was visiting Ulcinj during Ramadan I experienced how Muslims spent this period. My guest family didn't allow me to join the fasting, as guest I was not expected to do so. This made me feel very uncomfortable, and as a result I wasn't even hungry when my friend's mother prepared me breakfast in the morning...

Millenium

2006-10-07T10:21:00.000+02:00

This is the Millenium bridge in Podgorica. It opened last year and the Montenegrins are really proud of it. They even use it as background for their breakfast-show on the television. It was opened together with the new tunnel to the coast of Montenegro, reducing travel time by 60%. The capital also has a new main square with fountains. Podgorica has to look like a real capital! Lesbians are still missing in this city. I have found several gays and bisexual men already, but I am really concerned about the lesbians.

Never ending

2006-09-28T00:57:00.000+02:00

These days my to do lists simply seem to be never ending. Most likely because of my biggest handicap - I have difficulties in letting pass by opportunities. Having long to do lists and traveling a lot is not a very productive combination, thus I decided to force myself to finish as much as possible these days. During October and November I'll be traveling a lot.

Yesterday, during the Tuesday table (formerly translated as 'dish', but I know realise this is a self-invented word), we discussed conspiracy theories. Damned interesting! According to a psychologist the existence of this phenomena is closely related to paranoia (which is somewhere at crossing lines between fear and a lack of personal capacity to judge relevance).

Following his explanations I realised that paranoide is something that exists in very diversified gradations. It often has something to do with the burning need to have explanations for anything that happens. "Why did she put the coffee machine off, she knows I always drink coffee in the afternoon!" Those kind of questions annoy me tremendously - the everlasting need for reasoning - thus I am happy to know that they are part of a tiny dissorder.

Me and celebrities

2006-09-26T00:48:00.000+02:00

Breaking barriers

2006-09-24T15:26:00.000+02:00

I always found it awkward how small things in life can become huge barriers. When I was young it could take me weeks before calling a friend whom I hadn't spoken to for a while. When I started to live alone I could stare at the pile of dishes for days, nothing happened. Today I have to revise a grant budget, I know it can not be much work, but it feels like such a big thing to start with it. So I spent an eminent amount of time behind my laptop today, not working on the budget and doing absolute irrelevant things (such as writing a blog about barriers).

Barriers are nothing more than psychologic blockades I think. Breaking through them gives such a released feeling. And still they remain. And now I'm going to make another attempt to start with my task.

Blue lines

2006-09-23T14:14:00.000+02:00

This week road workers painted blue lines everywhere in my window view. The fluorescend lines indicate that you can not park your car longer than two hours, unless you have a parking permission of the city council. The good thing is that we will have less 'wild parking' in our streets of people working in the city centre. The bad thing is that I really don't like to see this blinking lines when I look out of my window.

Skopje

2006-09-14T19:32:00.000+02:00

May 2004 was the first time I visited Skopje. I remember one dark gay bar 'Why not' in the cellar of an old flat, probably a left-over from the time that Tito was in power of Yugoslavia. After that I visited Macedonia a few times, the last time spring last year.

This weekend I was in Skopje again, and until my pleasant surprise several new gay bars had opened. Van Gogh café only is a gay/lesbian bar on Sunday evenings. It had big doors which were all open, and many people were talking and drinking on the street. I first couldn't believe that such a progress had been made, so I asked Ana whether it maybe was the case that nobody really knew that Sunday evening was the 'gay evening'. She answered, "Well if I tell my mum something in the morning before I go to work, my colleagues will probably know what I told her before I arrive at work. Everybody knows what evening it is here tonight."

EP says stop homophobic bullying at schools

2006-09-14T19:17:00.000+02:00

Yesterday we launched our publication on social exclusion of lgbt young people in the European Parliament in Brussels. The Intergroup on lgbt rights together with other MEP's said it would take initiative for a written declaration against homophobic bullying in schools. Together we are going to look for possible interventions and actions in the coming months, and next year we will evaluate what has been done during a second session.

Many people attended the session and I can not describe how encouraging all the support we received is. In a year time we will know what the direct results of all our investments are. After all the ups and the many downs I experienced with IGLYO this is a great recognition for the importance of our existence.

Eclectic Impressions

2006-09-07T21:17:00.000+02:00

During the last weeks a pallete of impressions passed me. The darker and the lighter colours on the pallete didn't seem to match very well. Maybe that's why I didn't write a lot lately.

Some important milestones are coming up now, and I am glad for that. Tomorrow I leave to Skopje to meet with most of the regional partners of the project I am working on. We will discuss the continuation of the program after it has been on hold for some months. Skopje is a nice city, and I heard it's at least ten degrees warmer than it is in Amsterdam, so I look forward to going.

Mysterious socks

2006-09-05T21:21:00.000+02:00

After I just sorted out my clean laundry I discovered that I have six dissimilar, single socks. They don't make pairs. Normally I don't study my socks this closely, so apparently I've been walking around with a different sock on each foot many times. On the first sight all of them look identical, black or very dark blue cotton socks in the size 43. But after having a closer look I discovered them some of them have ribbons, some of them have specific seams, some of, them feel smoother than the others, and some of them are maybe one centimeter longer than the others.

I wonder what happened with all my other socks.

Mark Owen (the only person I ever interviewed) once told me that people start wearing more colourful socks once they grow older. All his pairs of socks were identical. Maybe it's better that I grow up too, it would make my laundry so much eassier .

John Blankenstein

2006-08-31T21:35:00.000+02:00

Today John Blankenstein was burried on the age of 56. John was gay and arbiter, still a unique combination. He wasn't ashamed of his orientation, even though he randomly received cursing choirs while arbiting important football matches, also on an international level. Great respect to this man whom demonstrated to be a role model for many.

Still he almost had a monopoly on being gay and working on top sport level. John often said he know other gay top sporters, married and having children. Today several speakers rightly called upon them to carry on the torch, to honour John and to be a role model for young people.

Earlier this year he coached our gay team in a football match against Moroccans, Antilleans and lesbians. We lost, but for John it was more important that this game was played in respect of each other. I hope that his torch will be carried on.

Goodbye summer

2006-08-29T00:11:00.000+02:00

Today I started working again, knowing that I will probably not have much free time until the end of the year. Even though my holidays didn't exactly go like I thought they would be, I still feel ready for the upcoming period. And I thought it would also be nice to redesign my blog a bit, so here you go dear readers.

To friendship, such an endless longing

2006-08-19T10:18:00.000+02:00

The house is empty and I need to get back to work. It feels that I have failed in completing an important task, but I will not stop working on it. Bodymarks and identity we do not choose when we are born, and nobody deserves to be damned for loving who he wants to live.

So I recollect my energy and return to work. The short visit to Normandy helped. It was funny to go camping again, just like in my childhood.

Behind dark clouds

2006-08-18T17:09:00.000+02:00

Powerless is how I feel, the pain cleaves through my body because there is nothing I can do. For one the hope has seeded but I don't think it is time to give up. There is time we should win yes, but there is no time. No time because time means going back and that is where hope dissapears. Rainbows we have seen, dark clouds above our heads. He deserves to be here now, but he can not live with the thoughts that this could end. So he wants to go back and live his life like how it used to be. Rainbows we have seen, the sun reflecting in the sea. Hope there is, and I prey. Let him live, let him live.

Love and Struggle

2006-08-09T22:21:00.000+02:00

The title of the debate I am organising, but moreover the reality of many friends of mine. To love in life the persons they want to love they have to struggle in many other fields of life. The debate discusses the role of the Dutch government in taking the lead in world wide emancipation. Is homosexuality only a luxurious western value which we try to impose on other cultures? Or is it a basic human right? Young people will discuss these and other issues with Dutch politicians.

The topic -love and struggle- is currently also a very central issue in my personal life, occuring in different ways. I think that it makes me stronger in translating young people's needs in politicial work... but at certain moments it also makes takes away all my energy. It seems that the fight of activists sometimes is a vicious circle of frustration and positive visibility, whereas there is such big need for structural support to activities of e.g. lgbt youth organisations.

So it's time for a little break. I'm going to camp in Normandy a couple of days... to unplug from the web and phone. And to breathe some fresh sea-air, eat some fish and drink some red wine... and to have a good time with a dear friend!

Tuesday dish

2006-08-02T01:53:00.000+02:00

Tonight a friend of mine organised a 'Tuesday dish'; a political debate with a group of people during the joy of a nice meal and a lot of wine! A fab idea I think... as it was the first time the format wasn't completely perfect yet, but as it is foreseen to be organised every week from now on, it should work out as a very nice concept!

Finally some relaxed environment to practise my talking skills... we had so many different people, like an artist, a psychologist, social students, old language students, modern language students, a hair dresser, a tv-presenter, a debate-leader, just a lot of fun!

Spinning

2006-07-26T21:57:00.000+02:00

Today I went spinning, and I don't mean Kylie's kind of spinning. When I entered the gym I was kindly asked whether I would like to join a Tour de France spinning session, which I of course couldn't refuse! I think that one litre of sweat exuded me, at least during the session which took a whole hour... But I like the adrenaline. I found out that the climbing sessions are much heavier for me than the sprints.

The class did a good job and was rewarded with free energy drinks and a towel! Tomorrow I'll go to the gym again.

Dublin discoveries

2006-07-23T23:07:00.000+02:00

This weekend I was in Dublin with Kris, visiting Ruth. It was simply a wonderful weekend, full of nice discoveries. Tonie, who served us lunch in a nice Dublin lunchroom appeared to be one of the first people who was involved in IGLYO in the eightees. Ruth lives around the corner of Colin Farrell and Bono. The cliffs in Howth are breathtaking. Beer, tequilla and vodka makes you quite drunk. Bars without the smell of cigarettes (smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants) makes you aware of scents you have never smelled before.

Die for love

2006-07-17T20:18:00.000+02:00

Tomorrow I'm travelling to Berlin to attend a queer youth conference. Wednesday evening we will commemorate Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, two Iranian young people that were hung last year because they were homosexual.
Around the world remembrances will be organised, because we can not even try to forget these two boys, who died for love, as long as hundreds of young people around the world still face the same destiny.

I am sorry for using this shocking picture, but I believe that we will not change anything if people don't see these cruelties with their own eyes.

Treasures

2006-07-17T20:11:00.000+02:00

This weekend I was in Utrecht, where I got a tour through the 'Catharijne Convent', a museum about Dutch Christianity. Never I had thought that a museum with a Christian background would fascinate me this much!

I guess that this was largely caused by the fact that we got a look behind the scenes; we visited the museum depot where a lot of art was stored; and a friend gave a wonderfull introduction on all the treasures that the museum covered.

It was a perfect cultural contribution to this weekend, in which I did not do much work, but saw family, friends, the gym and disco's instead!

Crazy butterfly

2006-07-11T23:43:00.000+02:00

A melancholic mood in the train from Paris to Amsterdam. It is Monday evening the 10th of July, 2006. Across of me a Australian couple is listening to long monologues of a Belgium women who speaks English with a British accent. They do not look to be particularly interested in her knowledge of Australia, which friends of her visited last year. It takes the couple a while before they manage to focus on the book and paper they are reading. It seems they do not dare to look up any more, out of fear to get attacked by another endless monologue.

Traveling first class is not something I am used to, so I enjoy the benefits of getting a meal and drinking a glass of red wine which strengthens my melancholic mood. I can not hide myself in this train. I am seated in a single sit next to the walkway and above of me there is the reflection of other people in the luggage shelf. No chance to express this melancholy in a laughter or tears.

So I decide to look back on a nice board meeting in Reims, which is in the district of Champagne. A visit to the Mumm champagne cellars made me understand the complex production process behind this delicious light golden coloured sparkles. I love it. I work a bit on some articles and try to sleep a bit.

In Brussels the train gets stuck due to technical reasons. Everybody has to leave train and complete wagons of people get mixed up. Some remain for a while without seat, which seems to be a much bigger problem in First Class then it is in Second Class. I start to get annoyed by all screaming people but then I have to laugh about their haughtiness. I love the little adventures in trains.

Book

2006-07-07T19:09:00.000+02:00

I'm not a big reader, but in the train to Paris this morning I finished a wonderful book. By absence of men is the story of two boys during the first world war whom fall in love, an impossible love.

"I indeed think, I'm sorry, that love is the indispensable reason of grief.
You have to know that the other before anything, is the one whom causes us sorrow, or will cause. Sooner or later he fails to be there, openly or furtively, concience or unconscious, partly or completely. Yes, he always fails and it is impossible to possess him completely. Possessing: an ugly word, isn't it? I can hear you say it. Despite, whether you want it or not, love eventually is a matter of possessing. Do you love me? Do you love another?
And worse: because the other fails we love him more. Through our hindrance our passion adopts a fixed shape. That is the problem. The perpetual necessity to seduce, to convince, to keep the other with us, to prevent him from going, that is what nourishes our love. We end in a vicious circle in which we of course loose, whilst we thought we were winning, but in we eventually are superseded because we could not win. The love kills itself. "

Let the sun shine

2006-07-05T22:37:00.000+02:00

The recent heatwave in the Netherlands didn't stimulate me to write much lately! Besides I was rather busy at work and trying to spend my time as efficiently as possible, thus spending my leftover time in parcs and on the pavements of cafes. All other hours I tried to sleep... mostly unsuccesful!

But I love it!

This weekend I'm off to Reims, the city of Champagne, for a weekend-long board meeting.

Quarter of a century

2006-06-26T22:59:00.000+02:00

This weekend me and my sister turned 25. It remains hard to explain that a boy and a girl can be a twin together, people often think that I have two sisters when I start talking about my twin-sister. Also people think that, because we are twin, me and my sister would have a very strong emotional link. That I would have a headache when she has, or that she would cry if I would be emotional, even if she is in Amersfoort and I in Amsterdam.

Well, this is not the case. Even though we have a good relation, we don't have links different from other brother and sister relations, for so far as I know them. My parents decided to let us go to different secondary schools, just to make sure that we would be able to develop independently. Contrary, sometimes my mother did dress me and my sister in the same clothes.

Preparing birthday parties is always a bit complicated, because my sister likes other music, has different friends, lives in a different place. So this year we had two birthday parties :)

Social Exclusion

2006-06-22T10:31:00.000+02:00

After a period of hard and intensive working it is always nice to see a result! This week IGLYO and ILGA-Europe launched their social exclusion report, a project on which I started thinking early last year. Together with Judit Takács and Evelyne Paradis I worked monhts and months on this project. The credits especially go to Judit and Evelyne, whom spent days and nights on writing and revising the report.
Personally I like the report most because of the every-day life of LGBT young people in Europe is included in the report.

Dentist

2006-06-12T18:19:00.000+02:00

Since I was young I've spent a considerable amount of time at the dentist, mainly because the dentist gave me all sort of braces. Only since a while I really start to dislike these visits... Two weeks ago the dentist told me I had several cavities, since I apparently haven't been taken care well enough of my teeth lately. Flossing is not my favourite waste of time.. but now I promised myself to start actively engaging in it...

Anyhow, consequently I spent this morning one hour at the dentist with my mouth wide open.. I really hate this drilling in my mouth!

Go Poland, go!

2006-06-12T17:46:00.000+02:00

This weekend Polish authorities have given a great example on how they should treath there citizens. The gay pride was protected very well by thousands of police officers (they looked like robocops), whom even smiled and waved to the marchers every now and then. I was touched by grannies whom were waving to the marchers whilst they were hanging out of their windows on the Warsaw streets. Thousands of people celebrated on this beautiful day their democratic rights, which is a huge victory for the Polish gay movement. Let's now hope that the Polish government will keep on improving their attitude and treatment towards LGBT people, even though I have little hope...

After the Pride we celebrated the good ending in I don't remember how many bars and disco's until late morning... Including a cool performance of Jimmy Sommerville. Those Polish people know how to party!

Istanbul

2006-06-12T17:23:00.000+02:00

I agree with those who told me in advance: Istanbul is cool! Unfortunately I was there only for one day, so I had to hurry a bit through the city. In addition the Polish Minister of Education decided to say something stupid exactly on my only free day in between quite some working days... so I spent a large amount of time in my afternoon on making phone calls. But I will come back, that's for sure!

In the army

2006-06-05T22:14:00.000+02:00

I'm in a super-hot Ankara! It is more than thirty degrees here, many people are complaining, but I love it! Even though my mind works a bit slower then usual...

What really stucks me here are the stories about the Turkish army. Due to the army being very patriarchal and heterosexual-oriented most gay guys don't feel anything for spending 8 - 18 months in the army. The only way to escape from your army-duty is to get a psychological report saying that due to your sexual orientation you disqualify for the army. (Consciousness objection is punishable with long-term imprisonment...)

Most psychologists require for this testimony pictures proving your sexual orientation. Qualifying photo's have to demonstrate that the concerning boy is anally penetrated by another man. If you are penetrating then you're not gay. Even single guys have to come-up with such pictures. Once you have your disqualification papers for the army this also means that you are disqualified to work for other state institutions. The latter is an interesting case for the European Court of Human Rights, I think.

Oh and don't think that you can keep the pictures afterwards: they are going to be archived! Thus I was informed that the Turkish army actually has the biggest archive of gay porn in the world!

Sun, here I come

2006-05-29T17:40:00.000+02:00

Sometimes things in life happen without having control over them. They make you need to be pragmatic, whereas it is so much eassier to stay living in your dream. These situations can be frustrating and they might hurt, but you need accept them, because you have to move on.

So tomorrow morning I fly to Ankara, to develop a project with local partner organisations. I will spend five days in the Turkish capital, and then move forward to Istanbul, which I have never seen before. I will relax there a little bit, and finally enjoy some sunshine, something that has been lacking here in Amsterdam the past couple of weeks.

Eventually my travel will end in Poland, where I will lead a Dutch delegation which will visit the Gay Pride. Hope that many people will join!

So off for a while!

Old fashioned blogging

2006-05-26T10:43:00.000+02:00

It seems that we are getting pretty old fashioned with our written blogs. On YouTube people have video blogs, which are extremely funny to watch I've just discovered. For instance take a look at the blog of Brooke, a teenage girl from America whom is telling us about here life. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Brookers

YouTube is also great fun because of other video's that are posted. It's a good waste of time on a free rainy Friday morning like today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAmljaj5stA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPu19jOcJF4

Holy Shit

2006-05-22T20:32:00.001+02:00

This year the UN Commission for NGO's again refused to give consultative status to several LGBT NGO's in ECOSOC. The Holy See delegate said in the commission:

"Sexual orientation is not comparable to race or ethnic origin. In spite of its assertions about human rights, this NGO’s particular interests fall beyond the scope of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international juridical instruments: In other words, what ILGA and its proponents are asking is not for equal rights but special rights; special rights that allow others a leeway for a discreet suppression of moral distinctions in choices and behavior that are of vital concern to the international community and the international order."

It is time that people and instutions blocking certain LGBT people to be protected from hate, violence and discrimination because of who they are, are kept responsible for the consequenses.

"On many occasions that the Holy See has been misunderstood, it is because it has always critically distinguished a homosexual person from his/her choices and behavior. The Holy See has always respected and defended all persons who are entitled to the protection of their fundamental dignity granted not by the State, not by some international organization, but by the nature given to them by the Creator."

And who says that the creator doesn't entitle me, who has sexual intercourse with partners of the same sex, fundamental dignity?

(...)

"The lack of making a stand against public homosexual behavior amounts to regarding homosexuality, as such, “as a positive source of human rights. Tolerance without standards seeks to create a level playing field offering loopholes for suppressing moral distinctions in choices and behavior which would be tantamount to accepting fake expressions of “anarchic freedom.”

I believe thus I can discriminate?

"The Holy See's position on marriage and adoption of children is based precisely on a recognition of a fundamental truth: marriage is based on the union of a man and a woman; the family is based on marriage. In spite of interpretations to the contrary, this is the meaning of the Universal Declaration and the 1966 Covenants. Furthermore new forms of family structure are weaker and less stable."

People, wake up! Already since five years the marriage in many countries can also be an union of a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. This is not an interpretation, but a fact!

"If this stand of the Holy See which hopefully is shared by other distinguished members of the NGO Committee here, were to be taken as an imposition of its own morality, in response it cannot but say that “gay rights laws and the demand for special rights as well impose one view of sexual morality (sexual relativism) on all peoples and then enforce this code of morality on constituents of other groups holding other beliefs and legislations.”

Who are the non-distinguished members? And who try to impose?

LGBT rights in the centre of Europe

2006-05-20T22:22:00.000+02:00

This week LGBT rights were, probably for the first time in history, discussed extensively at the centre of Europe. The vice-president of the European Commission Mr. Frattini, Commissioner of Employment Mr. Spidla, the Council of European Human Rights Commissioner Mr. Hammelberg and the chair of the European Parliament Mr. Borrel-Fortelles were all speaking firm words on how LGBT rigths should be respected as Human Rights.
They clearly said that the assination of gay people during World War II should be recognized at history books so that young people at schools learn about it.

They promised to further explore possibilities for the implementation of an anti-discrimination directeve, and they informed us that a green paper on freedom of movement and marriage is going to be present shortly. This would, in a period of time, also mean for same-sex couples that they will be recognized, even though in some cases the European Court of Justice shall have to decide upon this.

Mr. Hammelberg announced to fully support the Moscow gay pride, remarkable considering Russia's is currently chairing the Council of Europe. Even though remarkable progress is being made in Europe, I again was a bit dissapointed. Mr. Frattini told me that LGBT young people Europe can benefit from a communication campaign about anti-discrimimation the coming years, but will not actively protected from discrimination. This priveledge is kept to employed people. I still don't understand that the European Parliament would not see the benefit of educating young people more progressively about discrimination... Because on a longer term this would have more economical benefits as anti-discrimination policies and programs in the employment sector have currently.

Straight prejudices

2006-05-20T22:16:00.000+02:00

These weeks I am hosting many guests. It's fun, as it makes you show people around your city which you then see with different eyes. As different people visit me I am taking them to all kind of different places. Yesterday I was at a Gay discotheque with a friend from Slovenia, and tonight I was in a coffeeshop with the American brother of a friend of mine.

Next week two Australian friends are coming over, whom will go to watch the football in Germany. I don't know where I should take them yet... and I especially don't know how to tell them that I have to visit the Mr. Gay Netheralands elections at Saturday.

Night train to Idaho

2006-05-16T18:32:00.000+02:00

In an hour I will jump into the night train to Strasbourg, where tomorrow I will attend a conference organised by the European Parliament on IDAHO (International Day Against HOmophobia). Finally visibility to homophobia at the same time in different places!

Many activities are organised around Europe, see for an overview of some activities: http://www.iglyo.com/content/activities/idaho-activ06.html.

Never before I have been with the night train, so that is exciting! I'm also excited for a lunch tomorrow with the Members of the Intergroup of the European Parliament on lesbian and gay rights, as well with Spidla and Frattini. Curious to see what commitment they make for the coming years.

For more general information:
http://www.iglyo.com/content/activities/idaho.html

Pride and Proud

2006-05-10T23:46:00.000+02:00

This weekend I visited the vifth Moldovan Gay Pride. It was great being back in Chisinau: the dedication of people working for and with GenderDoc-M, the hospitality, and the fun made it a pleasure coming back!

Even though the organisers faced some backlashes in terms of recognition of the necessity of such event I think they can be proud on the event they again succesfully managed to organize in this part of Europe. It's through the efforts of involving many actors from civil society in the work that the Pride is so widely being supported.

On the pictures you see people being involved in 'forum-theatre'. An interactive working method by which needs for anti-discrimination legislation were discussed. Very touching as real-life situations were projected on the current legal situation. The ban of the actual pride by the Chisinau major, as well the participation of a representative of the Moldovan Baptist community (whom addressed homosexuality as unnatural during the conference), made it clear that there's big need for such legislation!

Work again

2006-05-01T23:44:00.000+02:00

My holidays are over, tomorrow I have to start working again. I didn't spend my holidays in a very traditional way this time: I used my hours off from my paid job to work on my unpaid work. That was a rather good experience! The last thing I did during these holidays was representing IGLYO at the Council of Members of the European Youth Forum, in Prato, Italy. At the moment that we were practising our democratic rights by electing new members for two important Youth Forum structures, the gay pride in Krakow was attached by right-winged extremist. Together with many dedicated young people from several Youth organisations I worked on a declaration against homophobia, which was signed by 102 representatives. A result which made me very happy!

I really enjoyed these weeks off! I met great and wonderful people, had a beautiful time around Europe, slept several mornings, stayed awake several nights without being concerned about the next morning and thus now feel completely re-energized to start working again.

Relax

2006-04-26T12:35:00.000+02:00

Currently I am quite relaxed. Next week I have to start working again, and I realise that these weeks with limited obligations have calmed me down. I have done the things that I wanted to do (which doesn't include painting the bedroom), and even though I am now looking to a big pile of work I haven't finished yet I am happy. Cristian, thank you for the wonderful days!

People's palace

2006-04-26T12:10:00.000+02:00

Too short I have been in Bucharest.

Yesterday morning I joined a tour through the people's palace, Ceaucescu's building which he never saw finished. 700 architects and 20.000 builders worked on this building, which is in terms of surface the second large building of the world. One third of the old city centre of Bucharest was broken down in order to provide sufficient place to build it. Nowadays the government is using the building, and it houses a conferences centre. Together with an American delegation I followed a tour, in which the beautifulness of the building was described. No single word was said what Romanian people think about the building, and which offers they have given for this mass monument on the communist era.

A: American Tourist, B: Bjorn, M: Marcy, T: tourist guide

A: So where are you from?
B: I am from the Netherlands, where are you from?
A: Virginia, USA. So you're traveling Romania?
B: Yes, I'm doing a short tour here, went to Brasov, Sibiu and tonight I unfortunately fly home. What about you?
A: Well, we were going on a Danube tour but apparently there is a flood. So now we're doing this.
B: So where do you go after Romania
A: I don't know, it's a tour, we do different countries in Eastern Europe.
B: So where are you going to next?
A: Marcy, where are we going to next?
M: Well we're doing other countries in Eastern Europe

...

T: So this is a conference room made in German classic style, with the heighest ceiling in the building. The patron in the curtains, which is filled with silk, is the same as the patron on the plates covering the heating. The floors are made of oak wood and in there are different sorts of marmer on the columns.
A: Can to chandelliers come down to be cleaned?
T: No
A: So what did Coucezu use this room for?
T: Ceaucescu never used it, he died before the building was finished.
A: Oh, Ceaucescu, I should say Ceaucescu?

Belarus 2006

2006-04-19T21:31:00.000+02:00

Berlin

2006-04-19T16:52:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I took some time to discover Berlin. Last Saturday we also did this during Queer Easter, but it was very Queer focussed. Since it was my first time in the German capital I decided to spend one day extra in it, and see some of its sights. I was very tired, so didn't see as much as I could have seen, but saw interesting architecture! Especially enjoyed Potsdamer Platz, close to it there is the new monument in memory of European Jews, which is just so impressive to see!

Deutschland

2006-04-19T16:40:00.000+02:00

Yesterday evening I returned from a week Germany. First I spent one week in Werftpuhl, together with almost 100 young socialists and queer activists. It was a beautiful week with hard working and lots of fun. Bettina already wrote it: it's unbelievable how empowering such events are! Making new contacts and building bridges between the work we do. Returning in reality can than be a cold shower... this is how I continued fund raising for IGLYO today... the importance of our work is obviously not experienced by decission makers. So now it is time to become more explicitly part of policies, which is of course much more work and complicated, but maybe even a better way to go on the longer term. So I take a deep breath and continue with my work.

"Balkenende against gay marriage"

2006-04-10T16:48:00.000+02:00

During a visit to Djakarta our Minister President visited an Islamic state university. A student asked how he thought about the Dutch gay marriage, on which he answered: "During that period I have voted against the gay marriage, but a majority of the House of representatives supported the legalisation."

Not only Balkenende is indirectly responsible for the infringement of Human Rights whilst making such remarks in his position and in such context, moreover he strongly devaluates his own authority as representative of the Dutch government. It is a State policy that the Netherlands aims to have a 'pioneering function' when it comes to LGBT emancipation.

Most interesting is the fact that he has blamed several Ministers in the past months for not presenting and defending the Parliament's policies, it all just sounds a bit awkward to me now!