COC Haaglanden supports the new WATH gay festival on November 2 in The Hague. The WATH Festival – We Are The Hague – is a continuation of The Hague Pride that was previously initiated by the COC.

On Saturday 2 November, The Hague will host a new festival to promote gay emancipation: the WATH Festival, We Are The Hague. WATH is an indoor pride with debates, dance, literature, film and parties. The WATH Foundation was founded by a number of people from The Hague. They work together with the event organizers from the Hague gay circuit, the COC Haaglanden and the Hague gay catering industry who together made The Hague Pride great. COC Haaglanden was the organization that, after Pink Saturday in The Hague (2009), took the initiative for The Hague Pride in 2010 and 2011. Both COC Haaglanden and WATH are committed to having the WATH festival held annually from now on.

John Blankenstein Prize

The 2013 John Blankenstein Prize will be awarded during the WATH festival.

This prize, organized by the COC Haaglanden, is given every year to a person, project or organization that contributes to gay emancipation in The Hague. The prize, named after the first football referee in the Netherlands to come out John Blankenstein (1949-2006), went to human rights activist Anita Chedi Shiwally last year. At the moment, nominations can still be submitted to COC Haaglanden, the closing date is September 30. During the WATH festival, COC Haaglanden will also be present with information material and a Meet and Greet event. During the WATH festival, the COC also facilitates the church service of the International Pink Church, by the American pastor Barbara Rogoski.

Program

The gay community in The Hague can and wants to take up a permanent position as a place where an active plea is made for gay emancipation on a national and international level. The WATH Festival is an important step in this.

The WATH Festival is realized thanks to financial support from the Municipality of The Hague and Fonds 1818, but the foundation emphasizes that any support is more than welcome. The complete program of the WATH festival will be announced at the end of September.