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28 Jan

19:00

OBA Oosterdok

Oosterdokskade 143, Amsterdam

An inspiring evening focusing on the LGBTI asylum procedure in the Netherlands, with talks from experts, music, and the opening of an exhibition.

(Un)Documented: Queer refugees in the Netherlands | Policies & Communities

More info & tickets

On behalf of the IHLIA Foundation and Here to Support, you are cordially invited to an inspiring evening focusing on the LGBTI asylum procedure in the Netherlands. This program marks the opening of the final part of the exhibition (Un)Documented: queer refugees in the Netherlands.

During this evening, we will talk with experts and researchers about the development of the LGBTI asylum procedure: from the first recognition of the right to asylum for the LGBTIQA+ community to the current situation. Although much progress has been made in the past 50 years, refugees and the NGOs that support them still face major challenges.

The program will be accompanied by music, and we will conclude with drinks and snacks.

About the Exhibition

Visit the exhibition (Un)Documented: queer refugees in the Netherlands on the third floor of OBA Oosterdok at IHLIA. IHLIA LGBTI Heritage—the LGBTIA+ archive of the Netherlands—uses unique archival material to show how the procedure has changed over the years. Together with Queer to Support, the queer community of Here to Support, IHLIA collaborated to examine the contemporary context. The Queer to Support community shares their stories and experiences through photos, videos, audio, and self-made work.

Program

19:00 Doors open
19:15 Opening song by Benjamin
19:20 Welcome by moderator and IHLIA
19:30 Introduction to Queer to Support & the exhibition
19:35 Panel discussion begins
20:15 Q&A
20:35 Closing song by Benjamin & closing words
20:45 Drinks & opportunity to visit the exhibition
21:30 End of program

About the Guests

Nilab Ahmadi - Moderator

Nilab Ahmadi is a city council member in Amsterdam, and policy advisor on homelessness. She advocates for social justice, equal treatment and a guaranteed dignified existence for people worldwide. In her work and political engagement, she combines practice and policy with special interest in people who are generally excluded from full societal participation.

Benjamin Ewaseha - Entertainment

Musician Benjacobs (stage name) is a songwriter, singer, and a performing artist from Nigeria Edo state. Afrobeat is his genre of music. Benjamin is currently living in Amsterdam.

Alejandra Ortiz - Panelist

Alejandra Ortiz is a Mexican trans woman, writer, public speaker, and a bridge-builder within trans communities. Based in the Netherlands since 2015, her work focuses on visibility and empowerment for marginalized communities. She is the founder of Papaya Kuir, a community-based collective that centers queer, trans, and migrant voices. In 2019, she co-founded T-Huis, the first dedicated safe space for trans communities in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Her memoir De waarheid zal me bevrijden (The Truth Will Set Me Free) was published in 2022.

Sabine Jansen - Panelist

Sabine Jansen works since 2006 with COC Netherlands to improve the position of LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers. She was the initiator and main researcher of the 2011 Fleeing Homophobia project, and she was involved in the gay asylum cases XYZ and ABC at the EU Court of Justice. In 2018 and 2022 her Pride or Shame? research reports were issued, on the LGBTI asylum situation in the Netherlands. Currently, she works with the Striking Sirens Coalition on the edited volume “Credibility assessment in queer asylum cases: Believe it or not”, which will be published by Bristol University Press.

Andrew DJ Shield - Panelist

Dr.mult. Andrew DJ Shield is Assistant Professor of Migration History in Leiden University, where he specializes in sexuality, race, and diversity in Europe since 1945. He is the author of Immigrants in the Sexual Revolution: Perceptions and Participation in Northwest Europe (2017), and Immigrants on Grindr: Race, Sexuality and Belonging Online (2019). He lives & bikes in Amsterdam.