AMSTERDAM, Jan 19 (Reuters) – A hair salon in Amsterdam’s nightlife district opened after hours on the weekend to supply a secure area for members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood who don’t really feel secure within the metropolis to decorate earlier than going out for the evening.
The “DRESS&DANCE” pilot challenge was organised by college students on the InHolland College and Maud Gussenhoven, who manages the town’s central Reguliersdwarsstraat avenue.
“It’s unhappy that that is wanted however there have been incidents which have made individuals really feel unsafe,” stated Gussenhoven.
Despite the fact that Amsterdam is called a queer-friendly metropolis and can host the WorldPride pageant in 2026, a Dutch authorities report confirmed that of the 823 reviews of discrimination made to the Amsterdam police in 2021, 310 have been primarily based on sexual orientation.
“Some individuals who see me, cannot preserve their ideas to themselves. And typically they even really feel the necessity to observe me”, stated trans individual Eli Verboket as they completed placing on make-up on the salon.
As they stepped exterior for a smoke, a passerby yelled a homophobic slur.
“That is why this idea is necessary: to soundly give individuals the choice to showcase their true selves, particularly individuals who have not come out but,” they stated.
Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout
Modifying by Alexandra Hudson
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