On the night of Thursday, July 31 to Friday, August 1, Trevor, after going out in the Smedestraat in the center of Haarlem, talks to an unknown man. After a comment about women, Trevor tells casually that he falls for men. Immediately after that he is beaten and kicked.
It is certainly the third time in a year and a half time that someone in Haarlem was heavily abused because of a sexual preference, Kortekaas emphasizes. The organizer of the protest is from the Dusty Foundation, an organization that supports victims of LGBTIQ+ Violence.
“I said last week: I’m going to protest, even if I do it on my own. And you have to see how many people are participating with me now,” says Kortekaas Trost, pointing to the crowd on the Nieuwe Groenmarkt.
Scolded on the street
The protest is also important for the twenties Romy: “I notice that I and my girlfriend are more often scolded on the street. That is actually very bad.”
Before she can tell further, Mayor Jos Wienen starts his speech. “What makes it even more painful is that Trevor came from Uganda here to seek safety. And then you come, twisted, in our beautiful Haarlem … And then you get kicked together. It is unacceptable.”
Trevor has plates in his jaw and under his eye, but is no longer in the hospital. The police are still looking for two suspects.