2 April 2017: the day that Jasper Vernes and Ronnie Serwatan were beaten up because they walked hand in hand in public in Arnhem. 20 April 2017: the day that Anousha Nzume’s book ‘Hallo Witte Mensen’ was published and became the butt of racist threats. 29 September 2017: the day that Anne Faber went missing and was found dead in October. 6 January 2018: the day that Xeverio Valies was hit on the head with a brick by assailants who called him a ‘dirty fag’. 18 February 2018: the day that the seventeen year old Orlando Boldewijn went missing after two secret dates with other men and was found dead eight days later in the waters of The Hague.
This is just a small list of incidents that make it to the news. Nowadays there is still a lot of inequality in the world with different faces, such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, violence against women and so much more. When we think of the word ‘inequality’, we might think of the obvious example of a non-Western country which takes a different view of the concept of human rights. But that is also one of the many faces of inequality. Inequality also exists here in the Netherlands – the country that calls itself tolerant.
But think of all the women who are afraid to become the next Anne Faber because they never actually feel safe. Think of all the LGBTI youths who are afraid to become the next Orlando Boldewijn because gay and trans youths aren’t able to date and show affection publicly. The SuitSupply posters that were destroyed because they showed two men being affectionate with each other. Minorities continue to be victims and the fears of women, LGBTI youths, people of colour and anyone else who doesn’t feel safe continue to be confirmed.
However, every time such events occur, something amazing happens: the emergence of an increasing number of people for whom enough is enough. More and more activists join in the fight for more safety, more equality, more acceptance and more normalisation. They start the dialogue, share their experiences and help each other. People like Sylvana Simons, as a woman of colour, speak up. LGBTI youths who refuse to keep quiet and talk about the risks that dating entails. People on Twitter who call people to action to put up more SuitSupply posters in protest against homophobia in the Netherlands. The organisation UNITED that plans a weeklong campaign against racism – this year it’s this week!
They share what they have gone through to create more awareness. These are the people who want a better world and fight the good fight. These are the people I am one of, because I fight for my place in the world and won’t let my freedom be taken from me – will you?
Rocher Koendjbiharie is a masterstudent International Public Management & Policy
