Assassinated gay politician Pim Fortuyn was the subject of an investigation by Dutch intelligence services in 2002 following allegations he had engaged in sex acts with minors, according to a Dutch journalist.
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Friday, December 16, 2005
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — The Netherlands has earned a reputation as arguably the most gay-friendly nation on earth.
It was the first country to recognize civil marriage for gay couples. Every major political party, including the conservatives, boasts openly gay members in Parliament. The country’s most popular stand-up comedian, Paul de Leeuw, is successful largely because of his sexual orientation.
But many here fear that the progressive attitude toward gays is changing.
A study by Out Now Consulting for Gay Krant, the nation’s leading gay publication, shows that nearly 20 percent of gay Dutch experienced some form of harassment in the past few years. One in three said they would not dare to walk hand-in-hand in public.
The image of the Netherlands as a safe and stable haven has clearly suffered following two high-profile killings.
Pim Fortuyn, an outspoken gay politician, and Theo van Gogh, a controversial filmmaker, were killed in the past few years. Many had expected Fortuyn to become the nation’s first openly gay prime minister.
Van Gogh was killed by radical Muslim extremist Muhammed Bouyeri, who cut Van Gogh’s throat and impaled a note on his chest threatening others for insulting Islam.
The apparent rise of homophobia in recent years has been blamed on immigrant groups, mostly Moroccans. The Netherlands has a population of 16 million, including an estimated 1 million Muslims.
“Many Muslim immigrants do not respect our values and our tolerance of homosexuality,” said Geert Wilders, a conservative member of Parliament who fears for the future. “Our country was freed by American soldiers who gave their life for our freedom. And now look what our country has become. Gays are often bashed.”
Muslim organizations based in the Netherlands contacted for this story did not respond to inquiries.
Job Cohen, Amsterdam’s mayor, married the first gay couple in 2000, in a move widely hailed by gay rights activists.
“Homosexuals must not be insulted. …
I am against discrimination, period,” he said.
Fears about the changing climate in the Netherlands made news again earlier this year, when Chris Crain, executive editor of the Blade, and his boyfriend were assaulted on April 30 in Amsterdam while holding hands walking to their hotel on Queen’s Day, a major Dutch holiday.
The assault became a major news story in the Netherlands and more incidents of anti-gay bias were reported. One week after the assault, nearly 2,000 gays and lesbians rallied on Amsterdam’s Leidseplein for a “kiss-in.”
No arrests have been made in the attack and, anecdotally at least, locals report an increase in tension and anti-gay attitudes. Two weeks ago, this reporter was walking home after having a drink in the popular “pink” district Reguliersdwarsstraat when bystanders shouted “sleazy homo.”
Gay Krant still reports regularly about gay bashings. One month ago, a 24-year-old gay Irish man was stabbed to death on a cold September morning after he left a gay discotheque in Amsterdam.
“Every cop got a training in how to deal with discrimination and how to recognize signals, said Amsterdam Chief Police Commissioner Bernard Welten. “We are very alert, for sure after what happened with Chris Crain. But in my opinion we don’t have a structural problem.”
Many local observers claim integration of immigrants is the real problem, but gay rights activists caution against scapegoating Muslim youth.
“It is true that many attackers are Moroccans but you cannot blame all of them,” said Frank van Dalen, chair of the national gay association COC.
Cohen said he frequently visits imams in Amsterdam mosques to ensure the lines of communication are open.
“The threat of extremists is really great, we are aware of that,” Cohen said. “However, integration is a difficult process.”
Some gay residents of Amsterdam fear returning to the closet and many wonder if Amsterdam’s much-touted tolerance for cultural differences has gone too far.
“We have to fight against discrimination and intolerance — heavy penalties and sending criminal immigrants back to their native country is necessary,” said Wilders.
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