Today, it is Purple Friday. On this day, people show their solidarity with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, non-binary and queer by wearing purple.
© paarsevrijdag.nl
The LGBT-monitor 2022 from the The Netherlands Institute for Social Research shows Dutch schools are often not a safe place for LGBTI+ youth. Only a minority of secondary school students report that students at their school can be open about their sexual orientation. European research is pointed out, indicating that more than two in five (41%) young people aged 18-24 hide their LGBTI+ identity at school. Moreover, LGBTI+ youth are disproportionately faced with negative reactions and an unsafe social climate. Worryingly, the safety monitor conducted in schools shows that feelings of safety among LGBTI+ youth has recently (between 2018 and 2021) worsened.
Want to find out more what you can do at school? Visit www.paarsevrijdag.nl
I was able to celebrate Purple Friday in a very wonderful way, at the LGBTQIA+ Research Day hosted by the Flemish-Dutch LGBTI Research Network, VU Pride, UvA Pride, and the Centre of Expertise of LGBTQIA+ Issues at the University of Groningen.
With (In)visibilities as the theme of the day, speakers talked about those who are (rendered) invisible in society, research, policy, and other interventions. Dr. Margriet van Heesch of the University of Amsterdam gave a very inspiring keynote on queer interruptions. I was especially proud of Hao Zhou who gave her first conference presentation on her dissertation research. Very inspiring to get together on Purple Friday with such a large number of young researchers who are involved in this topic!