A Complicated Legacy Makes a Comeback
For years, the arrival of a new L'Homo issue was a media event, though not always for the reasons our community might have hoped. The magazine, a spin-off from the mainstream glossy Linda, became notorious for its steamy covers featuring straight, often-shirtless male celebrities. It was a strategy that generated headlines—who can forget Arie Boomsma getting fired from the EO in 2009 after his cover shoot, or the much-discussed Jan Versteegh and Tim Hofman cover in 2016? But it also raised a persistent question: who was this magazine really for?
After folding in 2019 due to dwindling readership and ad revenue, L'Homo is being resurrected. The publisher is betting that the cultural landscape has shifted enough to warrant a second act. But this time, the playbook is different.
New Leadership, New Rules
At the helm are two editors representing a deliberate generational bridge: Iebele van der Meulen (57), who oversaw the magazine's final editions, and Stijn de Vries (27), a TV presenter who started his career as an intern at Linda. Their first order of business is a significant course correction.
"The most beautiful spot in the magazine, we want to give to someone from the community itself," de Vries stated, confirming that the era of using straight men as cover models is over. This isn't just a cosmetic change; it's a fundamental shift in philosophy. The magazine will no longer rely on straight 'allies' to sell copies, a move that repositions it from a mainstream-facing spectacle to a publication intended to center queer voices and faces.
The dual-editorship itself is a strategic move. Van der Meulen acknowledges the need for a fresh perspective. "With his youth, Stijn brings a completely different network," he said. "Of the young influencers he mentioned in our first brainstorms, I didn't know half of them. But it's important that they also get a place."
A Response to a Harsher Climate
The timing of this revival is no accident. Both editors point to the deteriorating social climate for LGBTQ+ people as a primary motivator. "LGBTQ+ acceptance is under great pressure. Discrimination and violence against queer people are increasing," explained van der Meulen. "We are choosing a positive vibe. We want to celebrate that we are here and that we can look the way we want to look."
The plan is to create an annual print edition that feels like a collector's item, blending what de Vries calls "good old sexiness" with socially engaged stories, columns, and interviews. It's a delicate balance: celebrating queer joy and aesthetics while acknowledging the political urgency of our time.
Full Circle with an 'Original Ally'
In a nod to its own history, the new issue will feature a story on queer allies that includes Arie Boomsma. Van der Meulen calls him the "original version" of an ally, whose 2009 cover had real-world consequences. His inclusion feels like an attempt to close a loop, acknowledging the magazine's past while pivoting toward its new, community-focused future.
For de Vries, the project is personal. He recalls being a 15-year-old in Almelo, seeing the L'Homo with Jan and Tim on the newsstand. "I didn't dare buy it, afraid of giving away my own secret," he shared. "But just by seeing the people in the magazine, I felt less alone."
Whether a once-a-year print publication can still have that impact in today's hyper-digital world remains to be seen. But with a renewed mission and a promise to put the community front and center, L'Homo is betting it can. The first issue under new leadership is slated for release on April 23rd.
Based on reporting by Parool
