Funding Secured After Weeks of Uncertainty
The municipality of Breda has confirmed it will provide full financial support to COC Tilburg-Breda en omgeving, reversing an earlier decision that had placed the organization's future in jeopardy. The new agreement ensures the continuation of vital community services and the organization of Breda Pride through 2026.
The decision follows weeks of significant concern for the local LGBTQ+ community after the organization's initial subsidy application was largely rejected. This threatened the existence of numerous support groups and community activities that serve as a crucial resource for many in the region.
A Community United
In response to the initial rejection, a widespread advocacy campaign was launched. Volunteers, members, and supporters of COC Tilburg-Breda engaged directly with municipal policymakers, council members, and local political parties to highlight the critical importance of their work. The issue gained traction in local media and sparked conversations online and offline, with many residents voicing their support for the organization.
The campaign framed the issue not just as a matter of funding for one organization, but as a fundamental need to support emancipation and provide safe spaces for marginalized groups in the city.
What This Means for Breda
The successful outcome means that all ongoing COC workgroups in the Breda region can continue their activities uninterrupted. The secured funding specifically guarantees:
- The continuation of all ongoing COC support and social groups through 2026.
- The organization and execution of Breda Pride in October 2026.
- The ability for COC to support other smaller, local queer initiatives.
In a statement, COC Tilburg-Breda expressed immense gratitude to everyone who advocated on their behalf. They highlighted the event as a testament to the power of community action and reaffirmed their commitment, as part of a national human rights organization with an 80-year history, to empowering queer individuals. "We are not silent, and we do not stand still," the organization stated.
