“We go from church to church, those are our stops,” says Wielie Elhorst, initiator and leader of the pilgrimage. The first part of the journey ends tonight in Landsmeer. “Most people sleep at home or with host families.”
Celebrate
Leen came from Gouda to Wormerveer by train, and has no idea where he will spend the night. “I am a guest at a municipal member in Landsmeer tonight. Curious where I am dropped, in a tent or a guest room. I just wait,” he says laughing.
Nelleke emphasizes the importance of visibility within the ecclesiastical context. “I think it is special to show that as a queer person you are welcome in the church, and to celebrate that together.”
Resistance
Yet that message is not welcome everywhere. This year, Elhorst encountered more resistance when searching for churches that wanted to open their doors for the pilgrimage. “Some said they found it complicated to receive us.” Well, the organization often hears a ‘no’, but that substantive reasons are specified is new, according to Elhorst.
However, there was no resistance in the church in Wormerveer. The pastor blessed the pilgrims in all colors of the rainbow flag: “I bless you with God’s multi -colored light, in which all colors merge and we are at home, and can come home, who we are.”
Pride march
The pilgrimage ends on Saturday afternoon in Amsterdam, where the participants join the Pride March towards the Vondelpark.