Violence against gays a problem in Amste

[foxfeet]

Source: MSNBC

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Amsterdam faces an ingrained problem of violence against gay men, despite its reputation as a haven of tolerance, according to a study released Thursday.

Town councilman Freek Ossel said the University of Amsterdam study, commissioned by the city, said the Dutch capital must improve protection of gays, increase education, and encourage reporting of discriminatory incidents.

"Amsterdam's title as a gay capital, according to some people, has already been gone for years, and according to others in any case it's at stake," he said.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27828610 /


Even there LGBTs face violence. The study attributes the attacks to "poorly educated young men who feel their masculinity is questioned," and notes that they tend to see gay men as "predatory" when unwanted advances are made. If that were a justification for violence there wouldn't be a straight man alive who didn't bear physical scars from angry women. Whatever happened to "No?"

[bluedawg12]

1. I had no idea.

I always thought of Amsterdam as pretty open minded, sounds odd. I wonder if there is some political rw agenda at loose?

Hell, I didn't really think of the Dutch as particularly violent.

Disturbing.

[iamincali83]

2. Homophobic assholes seem to be everywhere.

Unfortunately! :mad:

[bluedawg12]

3. An international disease apparently.

[cboy4]

4. That's a shame...but really nothing surprises me anymore...

even in a theoretically tolerant and liberal city like Amsterdam.

I'd still love to check the place out some day.

[foxfeet]

6. I've been a there a couple of times.

It is still a beautiful and, overall, very tolerant city. I never once felt threatened. By all means, go if you get the chance.

[Raster]

5. The anti-gay violence can partially be blamed on the insurgence of radical Islam in Amsterdam.

[foxfeet]

7. That does seem to be part of the problem.

I've read that a relatively high proportion of the assailants are young men of Moroccan descent. The assimilation of Muslim immigrants into the larger Dutch culture is an ongoing issue. Gay issues aside, many Muslim newcomers (and the hardliners already there) are shocked by the Dutch tolerance of nudity and sexual expression. The Dutch government now requires potential immigrants from all other countries to view films and reading material describing the Dutch values of tolerance and openness, so the immigrants know what to expect.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

8. I think os, too...

If these people can't tolerate openness and tolerance, then they should go back from whence they came. The Dutch should not have to change for someone who VOLUNTaRILY comes to their country.

[bluedawg12]

9. Then it is true, the Dutch are not particularly intolerant or violent

however, an influx of people with a very different cultural outlook is creating friction and violence.

[Eryemil]

10. I don't think these people are 'radical' Islamists

Just run of the mill believers. Pretty much every Muslim country treats gays like beasts. From execution, beatings and whippings to imprisonment and forced SRS.

[bluedawg12]

11. Here's some info. from Amsterdam

From 2005

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/amsterdamforum/050528af

>>Ahmed Dadou on people who say the rise in intolerance has coincided with the growth of the Muslim population in Amsterdam:

"I don't think it is a Muslim problem, otherwise you would have seen it across the whole Muslim group in every age and in every class, but that's not the issue. It's always the same small group of youngsters, street-boys so to say, who cause the same problems, not only toward the gay community but to wards everyone they dislike."

Homophobia is casting its shadow in Amsterdam
"I don't think it's much of an ideology or belief that people should be beaten up, it's more their own frustration that they are trying to point back to society. We're dealing with a group of young men who really have the idea they have nothing to lose in the Netherlands anymore."

Ahmed Dadou on the Dutch government's role:

"The government really doesn't know what to do and they probably add to the problem because of their harsh statements about the Muslim community and about these youngsters, and especially Moroccan youths, they do push these youngsters away from society and once you are pushed away you have to fight back."<<

.........

So, attacking gays physically is retribution for perceived government injustice? Isn't that called scapegoating?

....
Replies to the article:
A selection of the email messages you sent to us:
Jan, Amsterdam: "Attitudes of people are moulded by the leaders. Present politics in the Netherlands is based on 'divide and rule.' The country is clearly divided into two major groups, i.e. Dutch people and foreigners. Both the groups are sub-divided. Policies, projects and programmes are made and propagated to create confrontation. And politicians are enjoying the benefits of confrontation. The sense of give and take, tolerance, hospitality and care are diminishing day by day. Economic factors are also contributing to the miseries of common people, which is the fruit of the present government. More and more people are fleeing the country. The government wants to change the multi-cultural society, by following the polder model. Let's wait and see."

Jan Velema, London, Ontario, Canada: "Religious ideology leads to homophobia and hate. It has a proven track record. Mythological belief is taking us back to the dark ages."
.........

http://www.gaywired.com/PrintFriendly.cfm?ID=3798


>> The survey, by Out Now Consulting for Gay Krant, the nation's leading LGBT publication, shows that despite cultivating an image as a gay friendly country, nearly 20 percent of gays in the Netherlands experienced some form of harassment in the last two years.

The study cites verbal abuse as the most common form of homophobia, but says that physical violence and threats of violence also are on the rise.

In addition, the report says, the incidents are more likely to occur in large cities rather than rural areas. It pinpoints Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht as major problem spots.

All three cities have large gay communities.

More than 75 percent of those questioned said that growing intolerance of gays should serve as a warning to the country that social progress could be rolled back.

The study did not specify the reasons for rising homophobia, but a growing Moslem community has been increasingly vocal in condemning homosexuality. LGBT civil rights groups in Holland have been critical of the government for failing to tackle religious extremists who they accuse of inciting hate.<<

[Raster]

12. True, however, radical Islamic fundamentalists are particularly virulent.

[bluedawg12]

13. Authoritarian religions taken to an extreme

small wonder.