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About
Gay & Lesbian
Amsterdam is an international city with a long history of tolerance of different cultures and ways of thinking. It is argued that the city’s history as a port forced its people to become accepting of other cultures and different ways of thinking. Dutch people are generally not the type to say anything degrading about gay people to their faces.
Many people across the world know Amsterdam as a 'gay' city, one of the gay capitals of the world. Amsterdam is, after all, the home of the Homomonument commemorating all the gay men and women who lost their lives in the second world war. Flowers are laid on the monument regularly and it’s a great place to have your picture taken. There is no West Village like in New York City or Old Compton Street in London, but most gay establishments are in the Centre.
Anyone is welcome in gay bars as long as they behave. A crowd of mixed expats would feel comfortable at any of the bars on Reguliersdwarsstraat. All of the bars are fairly mixed as far as race and nationality are concerned - even Habibi Ana , the Arab bar. The back corner of Café April is referred to by regulars as 'Asian Corner'.
In 1998, civil unions for same sex couples became legal, and in 2001 the Netherlands became the first country in the world to grant same sex couples the right to marry, enjoying the same legal rights as opposite sex couples. Since that time, thousands of gay couples have married, and some have exercised their right to divorce as well.
The oldest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender organisation in the world that is devoted to advancing the social and legal position of gays and lesbians in the Netherlands (and also globally) is the COC (www.coc.nl), founded in 1946. They are still in existence and are an excellent organisation for people looking to get information or find resources. Their website has a huge assortment of activities and links. Another group devoted to changing the laws across the world is Love Exiles, based in Amsterdam (www.loveexiles.org). A love exile is someone who does not have the choice of living in his or her home country with their same sex partner. They have a political focus, but are also a great resource. HIV Vereniging (www.hivnet.org) is an organisation dedicated to helping people deal with HIV-related issues.
There are a few annual celebrations especially by and for the gay community. Rozezaterdag, or Pink Saturday (www.rozezaterdag.nl) is the last Saturday of June every year. There is a parade, food, performances, speakers and people selling a variety of goods. It’s held in a different city every year, 2007 being its 30th year. Gay Pride Amsterdam, or 'Canal Pride' (www.amsterdamgaypride.nl) is held on the first Saturday in August. There’s a parade through the canals and, again, lots of people selling things, performances and lots and lots of beer. Everyone is welcome. The city also has a fairly large Leather Pride Amsterdam, usually in November. (Fewer pink ribbons, more black leather).
The atmosphere for gay people in Amsterdam is fairly relaxed, although not everyone is okay about gay people having equal rights and being 'out', so it’s not exactly a free for all. Same sex couples can regularly be seen holding hands along some streets, but not everywhere. Many other couples just go about their everyday business walking side-by-side.Just because you have the right to do something doesn’t mean there are not irrational people out there who will react violently. So use your head and have fun.
Many people across the world know Amsterdam as a 'gay' city, one of the gay capitals of the world. Amsterdam is, after all, the home of the Homomonument commemorating all the gay men and women who lost their lives in the second world war. Flowers are laid on the monument regularly and it’s a great place to have your picture taken. There is no West Village like in New York City or Old Compton Street in London, but most gay establishments are in the Centre.
Anyone is welcome in gay bars as long as they behave. A crowd of mixed expats would feel comfortable at any of the bars on Reguliersdwarsstraat. All of the bars are fairly mixed as far as race and nationality are concerned - even Habibi Ana , the Arab bar. The back corner of Café April is referred to by regulars as 'Asian Corner'.
In 1998, civil unions for same sex couples became legal, and in 2001 the Netherlands became the first country in the world to grant same sex couples the right to marry, enjoying the same legal rights as opposite sex couples. Since that time, thousands of gay couples have married, and some have exercised their right to divorce as well.
The oldest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender organisation in the world that is devoted to advancing the social and legal position of gays and lesbians in the Netherlands (and also globally) is the COC (www.coc.nl), founded in 1946. They are still in existence and are an excellent organisation for people looking to get information or find resources. Their website has a huge assortment of activities and links. Another group devoted to changing the laws across the world is Love Exiles, based in Amsterdam (www.loveexiles.org). A love exile is someone who does not have the choice of living in his or her home country with their same sex partner. They have a political focus, but are also a great resource. HIV Vereniging (www.hivnet.org) is an organisation dedicated to helping people deal with HIV-related issues.
There are a few annual celebrations especially by and for the gay community. Rozezaterdag, or Pink Saturday (www.rozezaterdag.nl) is the last Saturday of June every year. There is a parade, food, performances, speakers and people selling a variety of goods. It’s held in a different city every year, 2007 being its 30th year. Gay Pride Amsterdam, or 'Canal Pride' (www.amsterdamgaypride.nl) is held on the first Saturday in August. There’s a parade through the canals and, again, lots of people selling things, performances and lots and lots of beer. Everyone is welcome. The city also has a fairly large Leather Pride Amsterdam, usually in November. (Fewer pink ribbons, more black leather).
The atmosphere for gay people in Amsterdam is fairly relaxed, although not everyone is okay about gay people having equal rights and being 'out', so it’s not exactly a free for all. Same sex couples can regularly be seen holding hands along some streets, but not everywhere. Many other couples just go about their everyday business walking side-by-side.Just because you have the right to do something doesn’t mean there are not irrational people out there who will react violently. So use your head and have fun.
