LGBT Tolerance in the Netherlands

Introduction

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is frequently called the "gay capital" of the world. The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, eliminating any distinction between heterosexual and homosexual marriages. Following suit, other countries began emulating this law (Taylor), proving the Dutch as pioneering forces in LGBT rights for decades. The acronym LGBT represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The first three letters are related to sexual orientation, which are collectively considered homosexuality. Homosexuals are people attracted to the same sex, while transgender men and women are those whose gender identity and expression differ from their birth-assigned sex.

Gender identity encapsulates a person's internal experience of their gender, and gender expression pertains to external presentations ("LGBTQ").

Regarding LGBT acceptance, the Netherlands is viewed as one of the friendliest countries, as over 90% of the Dutch population agree individuals should be free to live true to their homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgender identification ("Gender"). However, opposition exists in all narratives, and a nation's diverse population comprises varied perspectives, manifesting in minority groups with negative views of the LGBT community.

Concerningly, these negative attitudes are more common among students, despite their increased awareness of LGBT rights. Disparities in tolerance towards different LGBT members remain, evident in the Dutch population being more accepting of homosexuals than transgender people. Generally, Dutch adults are positive towards the LGBT community, but adults with immigrant backgrounds, limited education, or strict religious affiliations are more prone to display negative attitudes ("Gender"). This paper strives to explore differences in the handling of transgender and homosexuals as well as investigating tolerance variances and the social and legal treatment of the LGBT community from a demographic standpoint.

Legally, LGB tolerance in the Netherlands is less contentious. As stated by the Chicago Journal of International Law, the Netherlands was the first to permit same-sex marriage on the same grounds as heterosexual couples. The lower house of parliament approved this law with a 190 to 33 vote in 2000, and the upper house of parliament endorsed the marriage law with a 49 to 26 vote (Patterson 2). One restriction facing gay men is the inability to donate blood, as men having sex with men are at higher risk of HIV infection. Even so, efforts to lift this limitation are underway ("Gender").

While legally, most homosexuals receive equal treatment to heterosexuals, the question gifts whether they experience similar social treatment. According to Social Studies and Sociology professor Saskia Keuzenkamp at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, more of the population has grown to support homosexuality over the years (Keuzenkamp 34). However, she found that for approximately two decades, "5% of the Dutch public disagreed with the statement that homosexuals should be free to live their lives as they choose," suggesting the acceptance ceiling for homosexuality has been reached. Although the Netherlands is known for acceptance, an anti-LGB climate persists in schools, with many young people feeling unable to openly express their homosexuality.

This reaction is good reason, since 'gay' and 'fag' are two of the most frequently used insults to question male students' masculinity ("Sexual"). In addition, recent research conducted by the Public Health Service of Amsterdam shows that a fifth of young people in Amsterdam have negative perceptions of LGBT pupils ("Dutch"). The Dutch government is actively promoting more LGB awareness in schools. Since 2012, awareness of sexual diversity has been a compulsory part of sex education in primary and secondary schools. LGB organizations and schools across Europe have partnered to combat school homophobia ("Sexual"). Extra measures to fight LGBT discrimination include increasing by 50% the demand on offenses under general criminal law that include a discriminatory aspect. Safety networks have been created in conjunction with COC, a leading LGBT organization, to enhance the detection of homophobic violence and communication about ongoing cases and investigations.

Each region also conducts its own regional discrimination meetings ("Dutch"). Although transgender people in the Netherlands have less acceptance than homosexuals, there is growing acceptance for gender changes. Since 1985, it has been possible to change one's legally registered sex in the Netherlands, but only after undergoing gender reassignment surgery and sterilisation ("Gender"). The initial gender change process was lengthy and difficult ("Controlling").

While the prerequisites were eliminated in 2014, individuals are still required to select either male or female. Transgender people are safeguarded against discrimination by the constitution and the General Equal Treatment Act ("Gender"). In a journal by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research co-authored by Saskia Keuzenkamp and Lisette Kuyper, a researcher specializing in attitudes towards LGBT people, surveys indicate a high level of transgender acceptance. Nevertheless, it was revealed that 20% feel there is something wrong with individuals who don't identify as either male or female; 21% would prefer not to associate with people who don't identify clearly as male or female; and 57% prefer to know someone's gender when they meet (Kuyper). Approximately 30% of transgender individuals in the Netherlands hide their feelings, generally due to fear or shame. Compared to the general Dutch population, the mental health of transgender individuals is weaker. With half of all transgender individuals experiencing mental health issues and 70% thinking about suicide, the majority still report happiness with their lives ("Gender").

Counter Argument

While the Netherlands prides itself on being one of the most LGBT-friendly countries in the world, and the rights of LGBT individuals are equal to the general population, this doesn't automatically mean there won't be problems that may arise. Being a country of 17.08 million people, there are bound to be different perspectives and ways of thinking. Among those 17 million, some people harbor negative feelings towards LGBT individuals. These negative attitudes can be found more among the younger and older generations, men (in comparison to women), the less educated, the strongly religious, and Dutch citizens with ethnic minority backgrounds such as the Turks and Moroccans ("The Social").

Despite the multitude of laws protecting LGBT individuals from homophobia, several incidents where homosexuals have been discriminated against have happened. While the majority of the population say they support LGBT rights, when the clothing brand Suitsupply released a new ad campaign depicting two men being affectionate with each other in early 2018, many of the ads were vandalized. The company lost many followers and received hundreds of complaints and curses via email (Pieters). Violent incidents towards homosexuals are not decreasing either. In 2009, there were 2,009 reports of homophobic violence, whereas in 2016, there were 1,574 reports (Dittrich).

Conclusion

A journal from the Williams Institute shows that, in general, countries accepting of LGBT people are becoming more accepting. The Netherlands was among the top five most accepting countries. From 2004-2009, the LGBT Acceptance Index Score was 5.84 for the Netherlands, and from 2009-2013, it was 6.67, showing an improvement in Dutch tolerance (Flores 16, 27). Legally, LGBT individuals have the same rights as the general population. Socially, while the majority are accepting and treat them like any other ordinary person, some people have drastic reactions and do not treat them well. The Dutch government is working hard to prevent homophobic incidents by promoting more exposure in schools and the police force. There's even a special squad called the "Pink Police Force" of LGBT police officers and allies who specialize in investigating homophobic activities (Dittrich). Currently, the Dutch still view transgender individuals differently from homosexuals, and homophobia remains present in certain individuals. Nevertheless, LGBT tolerance, while already high, is improving year by year.

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