Discussion workshops
The three themes were :
- Homonormativity, corporatisation of the Dutch gay scene, and classism within the LGBT community,
- Sexism and transphobia within the LGBT community, and how we do we evolve a common political platform
- Islamophobia and the Dutch right wing and their links to ’gay rights’ and racism within the community
They organised three discussion sessions on current LGBT/queer political issues facing us in The Netherlands. Each workshop lead with brief presentations from some panelists, followed by an open discussion amongst everyone present. They hope to try and evolve political responses to the questions raised by the panelists. They also intend each session to lead towards concrete plans for the future in terms of working/action groups or collaborations with existing networks. To achieve all this, they invited LGBT/queer people, academics, activists, students, organisations and anyone else interested irrespective of personal identity, to come and participate.
Queerativity
The first discussion deals with the depoliticisation of the LGBT community, establishing links to other struggles, the increasing commercialisation of gay culture, as well as Amsterdam Canal Pride and its lack of politics of emancipation, and how these are linked with economic capabilities of LGBT people. The second discussion is about sexism and transphobia, both in society at large, as well as within the LGBT people, and how they can get gays, lesbians, trans and bi people to share a common political and social space. The third discussion will be on the issues of LGBT asylum laws and links to immigration rights, experience of lgbt immigrants and racism, as well as exploring the issue of patterns of homophobic violence, islamophobia, and public/media perceptions.
Queeristan takes to the streets !
Queeristan 2010 ended with all of them taking to the streets in the city. This march celebrates not only the diversity of gender identities and sexualities amongst us, but also the diversity of people and groups who are in solidarity with a queer and LGBT perspective. The march is an open, non-commercial, non-party political march with a clear anti-racist, anti-sexist perspective. They invite everyone - all individuals and LGBT organisations, as well as activist groups working on sexism, racism, immigration rights, anti-militarism, anti-deportation camps, environment etc, to come march with us through Amsterdam.