Amsterdam has always been a mecca for liberal minded, tolerance-seeking individuals. And while the city has enjoyed its distinction as the ‘Gay Capital of the World’ for almost a decade, recent anti-gay violence has somewhat tarnished that image.
Despite Holland’s landmark passage of equal civil rights for gays and lesbians back in 2001, Amsterdam has seen high-profile attacks on the gay community in the last few years. Certain venues like Downtown, the city’s first gay cannabis club, have fallen off the map, while incidents like the 2008 attack on a gay model by a gang of young men have impacted the overall sense of safety for LGBT tourists visiting the city.
In the wake of these and other threats to Amsterdam’s gay community, city officials have increased safety patrols in order to ease fears and promote nightlife security. Hospitality and retail sectors have also tried to establish a more LGBT-friendly presence – and as of 2009, an entire tourism office was founded specifically for the sake of gay and lesbian travelers.
The Gay Tourist Information Center (Gay TIC) seeks to promote Amsterdam’s diverse assortment of LGBT venues, including hotels, bars, spas, clubs and escort services, as well as standard tourist fare like trips to the Rijksmuseum and the Heineken brewery. The organization’s website also features information on the city’s seasonal LGBT events, including Gay Pride Week in August and Pink Christmas during Advent.
What a horrible politically correct telling of what’s going on in Amsterdam. Gays are being beaten up by Moroccan Muslims. However, I fail to read the word “Muslim” or “Islam” in your entire article. You shame the traditional Dutch by doing so.