Start Gay Pride in Amsterdam-Slotervaart.

Source: Westerpost, August 5th, 2009.

Ever since Saturday, August 1st, 2009, the Amsterdam canals certainly aren't the only place at which Gay Pride is celebrated. For the first time ever, one boat in particular went outside the center of Amsterdam, to Amsterdam-Slotervaart, invited by the Mayor of Amsterdam-Slotervaart, Ahmed Marcouch. And for the first time, the Canal Parade began with an official opening ceremony, and with a message which reached further than a protest march or a party (horeca) event. According to Ahmed Marcouch, the opening ceremony of the Canal Parade is in perfect alignment with the policy on homosexuality in Amsterdam-Slotervaart, the goal of which is to stimulate people to think about gay rights. Part of this policy is to create special events, like this one.

The boat with the balloons.
At 10:30 AM, the municipal boat, decorated by rays of sunshine and by red and white balloons, arrived at Slotervaart. On board, there were forty very happy and cheerful gay civil servants, dressed in white and red, singing and dancing. Several men were dressed in tight and sexy outfits. A colorful drag queen, dressed in a glamorous party outfit, was the first one to step ashore. Later, rap artist Kami-Kazi, and stand-up comedian Rachid Larouz performed. Mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen, and Ahmed Marcouch held some powerful speeches.

Policy on homosexuality in Amsterdam-Slotervaart was initiated by member of the District Council, Alberto Schreutelkamp, who was also present at the event and who, later on, joined the crowd on the municipal boat, heading for the center of Amsterdam. In June, 2008, his local political party, Slotervaart Levendige Tuinstad ("Slotervaart Lively Green District") came with a request (motion) to Mayor and Aldermen of Slotervaart to develop a policy on homosexuality in the District. "On the one hand, the goal of this policy would be to support youngsters who come out of the closet, and, on the other hand, to fight violence against gay men and women", according to Alberto Schreutelkamp, who has been living happily with his partner in Slotervaart for 23 years. "This District has a mixed (multicultural) society, of which a small segment shows homophobic behavior. The clock has been turned back a lot in the last few years, and we have to reverse that tendency as soon as possible".

Double life.
The motion was accepted and Ahmed Marcouch - in co-operation with his civil servants - brought it to life with great endeavor in a so called "Gay rights bill". Ahmed Marcouch doesn't only fight for the acceptance of gay people, but he also calls on the citizens of Slotervaart to get into action. For example, he is very much in favor of establishing a gay pub in his District. "The freedom of a Muslim is the exact equivalent of a gay man or gay woman's freedom. In both cases, it is about the core of their being. Heterosexual people and Muslims should help gays. People miss out on their destination and their goals in society if they are stuck in a double life, or if they are afraid of discrimination, or if they are affected by a sense of shame". Council member Alberto Schreutelkamp is very proud of his Mayor. "I applaud him. Ahmed Marcouch really reached out big time. I can only imagine how tough it must be on him to try and bring up this particular subject, but he did it nevertheless". And it was difficult indeed. Some members of the Muslim community regarded bringing the Canal Parade to Slotervaart as an act of provocation. Pastor Wijers from the Church of Resurrection wrote a letter to Ahmed Marcouch, in which he stated that he couldn't support him in this: gays exist, but they are not allowed to behave in a homosexual manner.

Rap against homophobia.
Rap artist Kami-Kazi (Safoan Mohktari) knows how difficult it is to bring up the subject of homosexuality. "Violence against gays, committed by straight people, really makes me very angry", he rapped (in Dutch). "Today, we fight against homophobia, because people are afraid of the unknown". Actually, Kami-Kazi himself is not familiar with homosexuality. "I don't know any gay people, but that doesn't mean I have to despise them. I think you are worthy, and you have to treat me the same way. For years, I have been actively involved in stimulating mutual acceptance, here in the west part of Amsterdam. I think that Moroccans aren't represented enough in events like this. If Rachid Larouz and myself wouldn't have turned up, the same prejudice would have been confirmed: 'You see? Moroccans just don't show up. They are homophobic indeed'. I myself, as a Moroccan and a Muslim, are often approached in a negative way as well. I could get very upset about that, but I also can make a rap song and create a dialogue, to prove that it doesn't have to be this way. I am here to perform my rap song, and if it brings people closer together, or if it creates more respect for gays and Muslims, then my mission is accomplished".

They hide.
Comedian Rachid Larouz, who made a lot of people laugh during his performance, also supports Ahmed Marcouch in his mission. "I myself live in Slotervaart, and Ahmed Marcouch invited me to come here. I have always supported him and I agree with the things he says. I know him personally, I know what he really does, and what he stands for. I am not a Moroccan representative, but I thought: 'I like this, I'm going to do it'. I know a lot of gay people. Recently I also have met some Moroccan gay people. They just were around me, but they were all hiding. I talk with them on a regular basis, and I know how difficult it is for them to show themselves as they are. I sincerely hope that I made some sort of difference for them today. If I get on that stage, maybe people will think about the situation of Moroccan gays. I grew up in Morocco, and I lived there until I was seventeen years old. Moroccans who claim that homosexuality is non-existent in their community, obviously have never been in Morocco themselves. I estimate that ten percent of the population in Marrakech and in Casablanca is gay. There have been some changes in Morocco in the last few years as well. In the past, a gay man (or woman) couldn't just walk the street. At present, gay people are visible: 'Hey, there's a gay man over there. There are two over there'. They don't hide. Surely, this must be possible here as well?"

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