Eveline van de Putte and Hindostaans & Queer are the big winners of the John Blankenstein Prize. This may be old news, but there is also a photo impression!

Farid, master of ceremony, opens the show.

Because no presentation took place in 2021 due to corona, both the winners of 14 and 2022 were announced on Tuesday evening, June 2021, 2022. There was room for celebrations including a fantastic drag show by none other than Victoria False.

Victoria herself also had a few things to say about the work of one of our winners, Eveline, about her 'Tour d'Amour' and what she experienced there. She knew how to convey this in an emotional and moving way, and her songs connected with this fantastically.

Victoria False sings a song about the misunderstanding and suffering that LGBTIQ+ people continue to encounter.

Eveline van de Putte won the prize because of her commitment to the acceptance and visibility of 'pink elderly'. “The community's elderly group has not (had) the tools to express themselves”, the jury explains. “They have not been able to manifest themselves through social media like today's young people and they also did not have the acceptance that there is now. It is therefore vital that someone stands up and puts this group in the spotlight.” Eveline also wants older LGBTIQ+ people not to have to go into the closet again in their old age, as occurs in institutions for elderly care.

Eveline told, among other things, the story of a lady with a transgender granddaughter, who was excluded from the group in her nursing home. When Eveline got there and set up a piece of education and entertainment with the granddaughter, empathy came and that quickly changed. It is through hearing stories, and really getting to know each other, that people come to understand.

Eveline van de Putten explains why pink elderly still deserve attention.

Young followers

The John Blankenstein Prize 2022 was awarded to Hindustani & Queer. "Because they are committed to the acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people in the Hindustani community, but also for their visibility and identity within the wider LGBTIQ+ community," said the jury.

"It is a group that has not been active for very long, which distinguishes itself by a large group of often young followers, who can certainly also be put in the spotlight in order to get the necessary attention for their place in society."

The board of Hindustani & Queer emphasized how the Hindustani LGBTIQ+ community is a doubly invisible group, with mental problems and suicidal tendencies even higher than the regular LGBTIQ+ or Hindustani community. The culture does not allow discussion of certain topics, and much is expected of you unspoken, leading to a great burden on the queer Hindus.

The board of Hindustani & Queer tells their story.

Taboo

The municipality has been awarding the John Blankenstein Prize since 2009. “With this award, the municipality keeps the name and life's work of John Blankenstein alive,” says alderman Arjen Kapteijns. ,,In the 80s and 90s he was one of the best and most beloved referees in the Netherlands. He was also a man who openly spoke of his homosexuality, breaking a taboo. While we've made great strides in queer acceptance, that taboo still exists, not just in sports, but in other parts of our society as well. That is why we must continue to fight for the acceptance of queer people.”

Alderman Arjen Kapteijns holds the microphone to announce the winners.

All in all it was a pleasant award ceremony, with drinks, singing and talking. If you are already eager to help organize the award ceremony for 2023, you can already send an email to info@cochaaglanden.nl!

Photos made by house photographer Marjon van der Vegt

A little laugh for the press at the end!

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