As a rainbow ambassador in Drenthe, Henk Nijmeijer was often critical of what he came across in his work for acceptance of LGBTI-ers. In short columns he raised his heart on social media about those experiences. In his brand new book Colors He further embroiders those columns and makes a personal plea for the acceptance, safety and visibility of LGBTI persons.
In his book, Nijmeijer focuses primarily on the surroundings of LGBTI persons, on society. He says that in the RTV Drenthe radio program Cassata. “Those opinion pieces were mainly focused on experiential issues. Then I thought: people apparently need arguments to do something about acceptance for LGBTI persons. Not the LGBTI world itself, we have all kinds of interest groups for those incredibly good things. This book is really meant for not LBTI people.”
The common thread of his plea is visibility, he explains. “I think visibility is one of the most important criteria to ensure that people go to equal rights. Because invisibility often means that you are not there, that your existence is denied.”
“You hear a lot of politicians say:” Everyone is the same, “that’s very nice management language. But the question is: how? We have to assume that not everyone has an equal initial situation. If you are poor, you have a very different starting situation than if you are rich.”
In which way actual equality can be put into practice, the book provides an answer. “I try to make people aware of what is and what is not there, what you see and what you don’t see and how to deal with each other.
“Actually, that is Article 1 of the Constitution, that is actually a rule of conduct: that’s how we want to deal with each other. But how do we deal with each other? You need laws for that, establish those frameworks. But a law does not change behavior or culture. You need much more for that.”
In his book, Nijmeijer focuses on the underlying structures in society, which according to him still assumes the idea that being hetero is the norm. “I ultimately focus on those social environments of sports, school, and family. And the media also play an important role in polarization, framing or concealing.”
Based on that mission, Henk Nijmeijer is ultimately involved in the De Safe Dressing Room project. Through the program of the safe dressing room, sports clubs are working on a safe and inclusive sports environment for their members, regardless of background, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Following that project, Nijmeijer now comes with the De Safe School project. “There is a lot going on within schools and educational country. There is a lot of insecurity. Just look at the reports. Young people experience high degree of mental unhealthiness and high degree of psychological pressure, partly caused by the LHBTI problems. The number of suicide attempts are shockingly high digits when you see a Seemige Worsten?” “” “” “” And that’s what this program is about. “
Despite all those initiatives, Nijmeijer also encounters ‘rainbow fatigue’, he says. According to him, this is because the symbol of the rainbow flag is framed as a symbol for one specific group. “Then I hear: we are not going to do target group policy. But that rainbow stands for everyone. That the invisible signal that that flag is broadcasting. When I see a rainbow at the town hall, I think: I do, I can be there, I am seen. If he doesn’t flutter there, I don’t know if I can be myself.”
The book presentation of Colors Is on 10 October in the town hall of Meppel.