| From 9 to 16 October 2022, the Rainbow Alliance Gouda is again organizing the Rainbow Week. A week in which everyone can be themselves. Man, woman or whatever gender identity: the rainbow week is for everyone! International Coming Out Day is annually on 11 October. On that day, the rainbow flag is raised all over the world to emphasize that everyone should be able to be themselves. Being yourself and feeling safe with how and who you are, that's important for everyone. Unfortunately, for many lesbians, gay and bisexuals, trans, intersex and queer people (lhbtiq+) this is still not obvious. ELDERLY Lhbtiq+ seniors, for example, are vulnerable. In many cases there is too little attention within welfare or care institutions, in public life, in hospitals or on the street. These elderly people have a greater chance of loneliness because they sometimes have a smaller and sometimes a specific network. They also sometimes have fewer options for informal care, because the current generation of older LGBTI people usually do not have children. In addition, LGBTQ+ elderly people sometimes have to deal with bullying and exclusion in care institutions. Many elderly people feel compelled to go back into the closet in care-dependent situations. TOUR D'AMOUR With the interactive theater performance 'Tour d'Amour', we want to initiate a conversation within the care for the elderly about the position of LGBTIQ elderly people within ambulatory and intramural care. |
  YOUTH LGBTQ+ young people also deserve extra attention. Puberty is an exciting period for most young people. Almost every adolescent is concerned with questions such as: am I wearing the right clothes and do I belong? Young people who have lesbian, gay, bi or transgender feelings also face additional challenges. Negative reactions, bullying and violence are common. This makes LGBTQ+ young people vulnerable to, among other things, depression and suicidal behaviour. Suicide attempts are 4,5 times more common among Dutch lesbian gay and bisexual young people than among heterosexual young people. And transgender youth make such an attempt no less than 10 more times than non-transgender youth. Because the environment is experienced as unsafe, more than 40% of young people at school do not dare to come out.  Image: COC TRANS PERSONS The emancipation and acceptance of transgender people is lagging far behind. Nearly half of transgender students who come out and go to school say they have been victims of verbal abuse, and one in five have been victims of gross physical violence.  Image: Movie Professional help and treatment of trans people could be better. Research shows that 71% of professionals who suspect that a young person is transgender, do not discuss this. In youth welfare, youth care and the youth MID sector, the majority of workers do not know how to signal that a young person is struggling with transgender feelings. There is also a lot of work to be done in this regard, if only to raise this awareness. CONCERN Recent actions and events aimed at limiting the rights of trans people, such as the offensive 'Gender Doubt' campaign are a cause for concern. As well as the acceptance within sport and the discrimination against LGBTQ people in football. Acceptance and emancipation also falter in legislation for rainbow families and cases where LGBTQ+ people are confronted with violence or practical problems. ME A CARE?! This year's theme is therefore “LGBTI: a concern for me?!”. In collaboration with volunteers and various Gouda social and cultural institutions, the Rainbow Alliance organizes a theme week with a wide range of activities. Throughout the week there are events, exhibitions and performances aimed at meeting and connection. For example, there is the film Minyan in the Filmhuis with discussion. There is a game night for LGBT+ young people, a rainbow walk through Gouda and a Pride service in the Sint Joostkapel. For the elderly and care professionals there is the Tour d'Amour, an interactive theater performance. INVITATION In the blocks below you can see a number of events that the Rainbow Alliance Gouda is organizing next week. Some of these activities are freely accessible. We invite everyone to visit the exhibition on the Nieuwe Markt and Achter de Waag. For a number of other events we will invite specific invitations or pre-registration is required. We cordially invite everyone to the flag hoisting on Tuesday 11 October at 9:00 a.m. at the House of the City and to the official opening of the exhibition, also on 11 October at 16:00 p.m. in the Agnietenkapel, Nieuwe Markt 100, Gouda. Hope to see you again! |
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