Students and staff join the Pride March: ‘We must stand up for this community’

A sea of flags and protest signs made its way through Rotterdam city centre last Saturday during the annual Pride March. Thousands of people got out of bed early to take part, including students and staff from Erasmus University, particularly now that acceptance of homosexuality among young people is declining.

“It’s very warm, both figuratively and literally”, said Priya, a Media & Creative Industries student, describing the atmosphere at the march on a warm late-summer day. People were singing, cupcakes were being handed out and new friendships were being made. People of all ages waved to the procession from their homes and from the roadside. Janne, who studies Industrial Product Design at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, said: “The atmosphere is really good, there are lots of people here, lots of rainbows, lots of queer joy; it’s great.”

People had different reasons for taking part in the march. Janne: “Because I’m queer, and I think it’s important, especially now, to show that we’re still here, that we’re still queer, that we’re not going anywhere, and that we’re proud.” Others joined in solidarity, such as Eleni, who studies Media & Creative Industries. “Sometimes you have to support the people around you to keep this colourful, diverse community alive”, Eleni explained. Ellen, who works at the IDEA Center, the team dedicated to making the university inclusive, equitable and accessible, was also marching in solidarity: “We must stand up for this community, because everyone has the right to be themselves and to express themselves however they want.”

‘Pride is necessary’

The march set off from Rotterdam Central Station, where a number of speeches were given first. The attack at Berlin Pride earlier this year, the arrests of dozens of queer activists in Turkey this month, and the declining acceptance of homosexuality among young people in the Netherlands were all cited to emphasise that Pride is still necessary, until everyone can live freely.

Acceptance of homosexuality in the Netherlands among young people aged twelve to sixteen has fallen sharply, according to research that was published last week. “It’s very disappointing that more and more young people are taking steps back from what earlier generations have built”, Eleni said. “I think that if we are more accepting ourselves, and make these causes more visible, we might inspire others to be accepting too.” Janne also finds the news upsetting: “It’s at secondary school that many people realise they’re queer, so it’s very important to have a safe space where you can be yourself from that point on.”

“I think we must do everything in our power to change this mindset”, Ellen says, “because it can only lead to greater polarisation in society. Society is already becoming more and more polarised, and we need to stand shoulder to shoulder when it comes to human rights.”

The brightest minds

The IDEA Center organised a delegation of students and staff from Erasmus University. Eleni thinks it’s good that the university is taking this initiative: “If not universities, then who? They should have the brightest minds, so it’s good that universities are joining movements like this.”

Ellen believes that fighting for equality is also part of what the university stands for: “We have to accept that the university is a place where you can be yourself, where people can be intellectually stimulated and share ideas, and that must continue, so that the university remains a place where everyone feels safe.” Janne hopes that ‘universities and universities of applied sciences will remain a safe space for everyone to be themselves’.

Gaby van der Sanden works as a case manager at Safe@EUR, the university’s reporting centre for inappropriate behaviour. “I think acceptance of homosexuality at the university is going quite well, but it can always be better.” That is also why she is taking part in the march: “I think it’s important to show that I believe everyone should be able to be themselves, and that everyone is welcome at the reporting centre. I’m here for myself and for the university.”