For the first time in the history of the A'dam Gay Pride, there was a special boat with minors (youngters under the age of 18). There was some commotion a few months ago when a 14 year old boy (Danny) wanted to go on the gay pride, but couldn't He campaigned for his own boat. With the support of COC (the largest gay-interest organisation), he successfully managed ti get some 40 other youngsters to have they own float.
But there were some strict rules: no nakedness, no alcohol or drugs. And the participants need the permission of the parents!
As COC head Frank van Dalen put it in an interview (below in Dutch),
“The youngsters came up with the idea themselves, and you can do two things: say ‘You’re not allow, you won’t, and you can’t, and in the meantime stay secretly homosexual.’ Or say ‘You’re self-conscious in live, let yourselves be seen, give out the message. To a 14 year old boy who is straight we ask: ‘Do you already have a girlfriend?’ And to a gay boy we ask: ‘Are you sure about it?’ And that’s precisely what [the problem] is about. […] The funny thing is if you talk these youngsters, to them it’s not about sexuality, but about identity. Homosexuality is about who you are, what you are, what you enjoy, and these youngsters develop themselves in those years. Personality is given shape. Sexuality is not per se the theme they’re engaged with. It’s about who they are, and what they want to be.”
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