A little dumb

On Saturday 17 August, an interview with me recorded by Anne Kompagnie was published in AD Den Haag. In this interview I tell about my personal background, my relatively late coming out and our beautiful association of which I have been allowed to be chairman since July 24th.

I made a number of personal confessions in that interview, such as talking publicly for the first time about my father's death when I was six years old and the grief that followed in my teenage years. And I expressed my appreciation and respect for my mother, that despite his death, I was never short of anything.

But I also made some strong statements: my conviction that we should be more activist, my disappointment as a proud LGBTI person of this city about the cancellation of the Pride Walk due to the high winds and my ambitions to make the COC more inclusive and diverse. . 

I used the term 'cousin club' in the interview with self-mockery. And although I emphasize that it was about self-criticism and self-mockery, so also towards my own person, I understand that not everyone shares that interpretation or opinion. Some feel hurt by that comment. That is not and was not my intention and I would like to apologize for that. 

At the same time, I tell you that I believe that in an open and democratic society we should be able to say anything to each other, and uncomfortable messages or opinions should be part of a healthy debate. But I also realize that in my role as your chairman I have to think an extra ten seconds about my choice of words. I will try to do that from now on.

The Pride Walk that we organize every year as COC is very dear to me. Abroad, and since my return to the Netherlands, I have not skipped a Walk. Not even in Split, Croatia, where in 2009 the stones flew against our heads. Not even in Buenos Aires, where we celebrated the introduction of same-sex marriage until the wee hours, nor in Sao Paulo, where we as a community stood up to the homophobic statements of (then candidate) president, Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil.

But my personal disappointment at the cancellation of our Walk should not overshadow the hard work and the dog's difficult consideration of the organization. We may disagree about the choices at that time, but not about the safety of the participants. I get that, and I mention it in the interview, but I'd like to emphasize it again. The efforts of our volunteers and organization for the Walk can always count on a warm place in my heart.

Finally the other Pride, The Hague Pride to be precise. I did not discuss that with the journalist. I personally do not know the organization well and I feel that I cannot give a review or pass judgment on the choices that other LGBTI organizations make. All I can think of is the COC and our activities during Pride. I do know that many residents of The Hague, both LGBTI and heterosexual, rightly appreciate the efforts of The Hague Pride and its organizers.

I find it very regrettable and annoying that a different image has arisen among the organizers of The Hague Pride as a result of my statements and I would like to explain this to them personally. No one in this city doubts the vibrant power of The Hague Pride. Me neither.

Together we are strong. That is the motto of the COC and that is how I experience and feel it. There are countless organisations, individuals and entrepreneurs in The Hague who make emancipation and our community stronger every day. In the near future I hope to get to know all those The Hague's champs, so that together we can put our city firmly on the map and become a frontrunner in the field of LGBTI acceptance, emancipation and safety.

Saturday I was a bit stupid, as Máxima would say. But I'm learning fast, and we're moving forward together militantly.

Kind regards and have a nice weekend,

Peter Scheffer, chairman COC Haaglanden