Two sports clubs in Drenthe today start making so-called ‘safe changing rooms’. Too often young people stop exercising because they don’t feel comfortable. The parties involved find it a shame and unnecessary.
The sprinklers on the field at the HVA hockey club in Assen are on. The boys from A1 will soon start their game and the field must be wet so that the ball has enough speed. A rainbow appears in the reflection of the water droplets. More will follow soon, than printed on flags at the entrance of the clubhouse to draw more attention to LGBTIQA+ among others.
Joran Wolters, A1 player, talks in the locker room with some of his buddies. In his own team, he does not recognize the signals of an unsafe feeling in the dressing room. “Many people here have known each other for a very long time. It’s not that we completely destroy each other, but we can laugh about someone with a stupid joke.”
Still, he thinks the campaign in which his club is participating is good and necessary. “I now speak for the team I’m in, but I don’t know how it goes in other teams. I’ve heard voices from people who don’t feel comfortable, so I think it can help a lot for this club and also for other clubs.”
Watch the video in which the campaign at the hockey club starts here: