The winner of the John Blankenstein Prize, the annual gay emancipation prize of the city of The Hague, this year is primary school De Kleine Keizer. Alderman Karsten Klein announced this tonight during the presentation in the COC Café of COC Haaglanden. The jury of the prize praised the primary school for the attention it pays to sexual diversity and the lessons it devotes to it. The school motivates and activates both teachers and students to be open to the fact of sexual diversity in society and to enter into an open dialogue about it. The jury finds the institution of the school an inspiration (source) for many and one that deserves imitation at other primary schools in The Hague, in the Haaglanden region and in the Netherlands.

In addition to De Kleine Keizer, two other primary schools in The Hague were nominated: the Eerste Nederlandse Montessori School and De Leeuwerikhoeve Public Primary School. They were also praised for their commitment to a safe environment at school. An open and safe climate at school is an important condition for expressing your sexual orientation.

The John Blankenstein Prize is the annual gay emancipation prize of the city of The Hague for an organisation, person or group of people who have contributed to LGBTI emancipation in The Hague. The award is named after the late referee John Blankenstein. The former referee openly admitted his homosexual orientation and has meant a lot to LGBT people within sport and society. With this prize, the municipality wants to contribute to the social and societal acceptance of LGBTI people in The Hague.

The prize includes a cash prize of EUR 2.500 and a sculpture by the Hague artist Chris de Vis. Chris de Vis, known for the steel benches he makes, was commissioned by COC Haaglanden to make the statue. It consists of two beautifully stylized figures who seek to approach each other. Man or woman? Everyone can give their own interpretation to that. The prize money should be used to promote LGBTI emancipation.

Read the jury report here.

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