Hidden in plain sight
For many years, the Netherlands has been known as a forerunner in the fight for equal rights for LGBTQIA+ people. This role as a pioneer has been under pressure over the last few years. ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map shows that the Netherlands has dropped in the European rankings: the protection of LGBTQIA+ rights has deteriorated.
In recent years, dissenting voices also seem to be becoming more frequent and louder. There are well-organised national and international organisations that seek to undermine the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ people in Europe. This movement is also known as the ‘anti-gender movement’. People within this movement claim that they want to protect children. They believe that lessons about diversity in sex, sexuality and gender would influence children or ‘brain-wash’ them.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) takes a broad view of child development. According to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, there are seven issues that are crucial for the development of all children.a These involve:
1. the identity of children (the ability to be who you are)
2. the vulnerability of children
3. the safety and protection of children
4. the family environment and other people important to children
5. the right to education
6. the right to health
7. the right to participate (taking part and giving your opinion)
We discussed these topics with 17 LGBTQIA+ children. From what they told us, it appeared that LGBTQIA+ children are experiencing difficulties when it comes to these topics. Children are receiving insufficient protection. There is also a lack among adults, including professionals, of knowledge regarding what it means to be LGBTQIA+. Partly due to this, there is a lack of good facilities. Furthermore, children cannot always make their voices heard in places in which they should be heard.
For LGBTQIA+ children, the topic of ‘identity and identity development’ is the most important topic. Because things are not going well in all other areas, we see that LGBTQIA+ children in our society do not have the space to fully develop their identities. This means that they are unable to be who they are.