Category: Events

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Kerstborrel 2022

LGBT World Beside and RusLGBTIQ arranged a Kerstborrel on December 17 2022. About 40 asylum seekers and refugees from various post-Soviet countries gathered in the Goethe-Institut in Amsterdam to spend time together and play board games (Bingo, Mafia or Weerwolven, Uno, etc.). We are very thankful to Goethe-Institut for providing us with their amazing space. Without it, this event would not be possible.  

The event started at 14:00 and lasted until about 18:00, after which we had a walking tour of some historical locations of Amsterdam and saw some artworks from the Amsterdam light festival. Thanks to the small donations of our individual donors, we were able to provide lunch and about 20 tickets for the participants arriving from the various AZC locations.  

A journalist from NPO Radio 2 visited us and interviewed several participants of the event. We believe it is essential to increase the visibility of Russian LGBT people in the Netherlands, especially after the Kremlin-sanctioned homophobic policies, the last of which prohibits the public expression of any neutral or positive stance concerning the LGBT community. 

Besides similar homophobic experiences, LGBT asylum seekers and refugees from post-Soviet countries share a common cultural identity. Notably, almost all LGBT people from these countries know well Russian language. The common identity and knowledge of the Russian language make the interaction of LGBT people from post-Soviet countries easy and friendly. Such interaction, especially for those who arrived in the Netherlands recently, provides Russian-speaking LGBT refugees and asylum seekers support and comfort during one of the most challenging periods of their lives. Therefore, we are intended to arrange such events regularly.

We specifically thank Wolfgang Schreiber, who helped us to connect with the Goethe-Institut and accompanied us during the whole event. Special thanks also to Neil van der Linden, who guided our tour, despite the cold weather.

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Pride walk 2022

Many Russian-speaking people from different Post-Soviet countries participated in the annual Pride walk that took place in Amsterdam on July 30, 2022. Traditionally, Pride walk is the first event with which Pride week starts in Amsterdam. Although Pride walk is more of a celebration of the achieved rights of LGBT+ people in Dutch society, it is also a demonstration and a march that aims to draw attention to the problematic situation of LGBT+ people in other countries.

Unfortunately, current Russian authorities are becoming more and more hostile toward LGBT+ people. They have adopted and implemented various homophobic policies domestically and they aim to force such policies on other Post-Soviet countries. Joined participation of Russian-speaking people in the 2022 Amsterdam pride walk aimed to increase the visibility of LGBT+ people from Russia and other Post-Soviet countries. Such joined participation of Russian-speaking people in Pride walk happened also last year.   

After the walk, which started at Dam square and finished in Vondelpark, Russian-speaking participants stayed in Vondelpark and socialised. There were some free drinks provided by those who organized the Russian-speaking participants of Pride walk (LGBT World Beside, RusLGBTIQ and International LGBT in the Netherlands). Besides that, two tickets for the Tropikali festival 2022 – ‘Sunset’ were raffled.

We are grateful to all the participants, organizers and partners of this event.

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Pride Picnic 2022.

On July 2, 2022, LGBT World Beside organized a picnic for Russian-speaking LGBT+ people residing in the Netherlands. We are happy that this event attracts many people and is becoming a tradition. Thanks to the friendly atmosphere, people with similar cultural backgrounds can relax, socialize and make new friends. The event seems especially valuable for those who have lived in the Netherlands for less than five years.

Thanks to our enthusiastic volunteers, this year we provided homemade lunch together with drinks, snacks and games. We are also grateful to Amnesty International Nederland and our (anonymous) donors for their financial support.

The picnic started after 14:00 and lasted until about 21:00, with almost a third of the participants being present all this time. Participants were from different Post-Soviet countries (Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, etc.). There were also a few Dutch people. People mostly socialized and danced. Some were playing badminton, volleyball and other ball games. The weather was mostly sunny and without rain. After the picnic, some participants went clubbing at the Amsterdam center.

LGBT World Besides aims to continue organizing picnics for Russian-speaking LGBT people at least once a year. 

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Gay Pride in Amsterdam 2021. (Video)

Gay Pride in Amsterdam, better known as Amsterdam Gay Pride or Pink Saturday, is a bright, colorful, enchanting and large-scale celebration, in which representatives of the LGBT community from all over the Netherlands participate. During this event, anyone can safely declare their gay orientation without fear of being misunderstood or ridiculed.

The parade was first organized in 1996, after the country allowed the registration of same-sex relationships, which became an international event. Since then, it has been held every year and has already become a local tradition. The holiday lasts two days, the city is transforming, decorated with posters, lights, ribbons and garlands, cheerful music sounds everywhere and colorful balloons are flying. The event will be opened by the Mayor of Amsterdam.

The first day of the holiday is devoted to preparing for the main celebration. In addition to decorating city streets, people make improvised boats on which performances will unfold, finish work on costumes and a concert program. The main events take place the next day.

Closer to 14:00, thousands of people, including not only locals, but also visitors from other countries, come out onto the embankments of river canals. It was at this time, accompanied by loud music and applause, that platform barges, driven by gay captains, began to move. In total, 80 boats take part in the festival, moving from the Verstdok embankment along the Prinsengracht and ending on the Amstel river. On each boat there are several dozen people dressed in extravagant outfits. The groups are led by gay men in the guise of military, police and a wide variety of characters.

At the end of the symbolic “swimming”, the participants in the performances and spectators go to the continuation of the festival, which takes place in the city’s entertainment establishments – bars, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs. Costume shows, shocking improvisations, discos and parties, accompanied by fun, dances and songs, are arranged. The holiday ends only by the morning of the next day.

The festival goes without disturbances or accidents. This holiday is considered not only an important world event, but also a famous Amsterdam landmark. And thanks to the opportunity for sexual minorities to openly express themselves, the city has long gained fame as a kind of gay capital of the planet.

LGBTWorldBeside and RUSLGBTIQ

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Pride Picnic 2021.

On June 26, 2021, the LGBT World Beside team together with RUSLGBTIQ organised a joint picnic for Russian-speaking LGBT+ people residing in the Netherlands. At first, we were worried that we wouldn’t be able to do the picnic due to COVID-19 related restrictions but luckily most of the restrictions were lifted exactly as of June 26, and our event did take place — with necessary precautions.

The picnic started at 2pm and went till late at night. We were surprised by the number of people who showed up and by the diversity of the group. LGBT+ people of all ages and backgrounds came by. We welcomed guests from Germany, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and other countries.

Most venues were closed in the past 18 months due to the lockdown, so everyone was really missing such events and get-togethers. Together with RUSLGBTIQ we provided snacks and beverages. Some guests brought their own treats, too, including homemade delicacies. We danced and sung songs from different countries in different languages. Adults also played volleyball and other ball games, while kids entertained themselves with drawing.

Our team is profoundly grateful to RUSLGBTIQ and to all those who made the picnic possible. Big thanks go to all the guests who showed up. Many of them also asked us to specially thank Harlem, leader of LGBT World Beside, and Kirill, head of RUSLGBTIQ, for what they are doing. We’d like to organise such events more often.

We also informed our guests about the upcoming Amsterdam Pride, which is scheduled for August 7, and hope to see everyone there again. Be happy and love each other.