News item | 14-10-2022 | 17:24
Over the next four years, the 56 Dutch rainbow cities will receive €1.24 million annually to implement their local lhbtiq+ emancipation policy. This was announced by Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Culture and Science, at a conference in Utrecht. The closer to the target group, the better it is often visible what is needed, depending on the municipality and sometimes even district. The current cooperation agreements with Rainbow Cities run until the end of 2022.
Minister Dijkgraaf: “In the Netherlands, everyone can be themselves. I am proud of the collaboration with the municipalities and that we continue to dedicate ourselves full of energy to the acceptance of lhtbiq+ persons.”
The Rainbow Cities and the minister want to use the money and their policy to commit themselves to the safety, resilience and further social acceptance of LGBTIQ+ residents.
The joint aim is to increase the acceptance of lhbtiq+ persons among the entire population. Extra attention is needed among young people, the elderly and in circles where lhbtiq+ is still a taboo. Prejudice, discrimination, intimidation and violence against LGBTIQ+ people must decrease. LGBTQ+ people should feel more supported, safe and resilient at school, on the street, at work, in care and at home, in sports and in their own social circle.
Rainbow policy consists of different parts, depending on the municipality. For example, some municipalities organize activities around Coming Out Day and symposia about the safety of the lhbtiq+ community. The municipality of Oss has brought the exhibition ‘Extraordinary history, transgenders in the Netherlands’ to the public hall of the town hall. This made the exhibition accessible to everyone and residents of Oss saw the exhibition when they visited the municipality. In addition, transgender young people shared their experiences at the opening of the exhibition. The municipality of Rotterdam has started the Inside Out project with Dona Daria, which focuses on strengthening the social networks of LGBTIQ+ people and women in closed communities. The focus here is on the resilience of the target group on the one hand and on discussions with cultural and religious authorities and organizations on the other.
Since 2008, the Rainbow Cities have received an annual financial contribution from OCW in order to realize their ambitions. In the past period, 2018-2022, the program was once again positively evaluated and, together with the broad support among municipalities and collaborating parties, it constitutes a reason for continuation of the program.
Yields in recent years
The results of the collaboration with Rainbow Cities are:
- Financing projects to increase social acceptance.
- Combating violence against LGBTQ+ people.
- Contribute to a safe school environment.
- The growing increase in political interest at the local level, also the increased social awareness and the expansion of support in the field of lhbtiq+.
- The improved cooperation with local cooperation partners.
- As a point for improvement, it is important in the coming period to also pay attention to increasing knowledge and practical applicability of intersectionality. There is a great diversity of people within the broad lhbtiq+ target group. As a result, less attention is sometimes paid to one group than to another.
At the end of this year, Minister Dijkgraaf will present the Emancipation Memorandum, which also focuses on rainbow policy and its importance.