As Utrecht prepares for its annual Canal Pride, one boat will carry a message that extends far beyond celebration. For the fourth time, LGBT Asylum Support will participate, providing a day of community and visibility for queer individuals seeking refuge in the Netherlands. This year, 35 asylum seekers will be on boat number 15, while another 200 will be supported to attend the event from the canalsides, brought in from reception centres across the country, from Ter Apel to Maastricht.
For many, it is a rare opportunity to be openly themselves without fear. However, this day of inclusion comes at a significant cost, a burden carried almost entirely by the donation-funded organization.
The Financial Reality of a Single Day of Freedom
The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) typically provides residents with only one train ticket per year to attend a Pride event. LGBT Asylum Support argues this is insufficient, forcing them to bridge the gap. Last year, the organization spent €5,500 on train tickets alone to bring people to Utrecht.
This figure does not include the costs for lunch packs, t-shirts, hats, and Pride Progress flags that help create a sense of belonging for participants. The foundation, which has operated for 10 years without government subsidies, relies entirely on public and corporate generosity. While partners like TivoliVredenburg provide crucial support by opening their venue and making annual donations, rising travel costs present a persistent challenge.
Challenging the System with '#NietGayGenoeg'
The organization's work also involves direct advocacy against systemic flaws in the asylum process. Onboard their boat this year will be several individuals featured in their upcoming book, #NietGayGenoeg #TrueStories. The book, set for a late June release and to be funded via crowdfunding, documents the stories of 41 queer asylum seekers whose applications were rejected by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
It follows their 2022 publication, #NietGayGenoeg ‘The Naked Truth’, which profiled 28 rejected asylum seekers. Since its release, 26 of those individuals have successfully obtained residency status. The first person from that book is soon to receive their Dutch identity, a life-changing outcome for someone who faced deportation to homophobic Russia.
The new book will highlight what the foundation describes as investigative failures by the IND, particularly in cases involving couples. They point to the paradox of the state acknowledging a same-sex relationship while simultaneously denying an individual's homosexual identity. Also participating in the Pride event are asylum seekers who have been victims of transphobic and homophobic violence within Dutch reception centres, underscoring the ongoing risks they face.
How to Support
To continue its work and ensure queer asylum seekers can attend Utrecht Pride, LGBT Asylum Support depends on financial contributions. Donations directly fund travel, food, and materials that make the day possible.
Support LGBT Asylum Support
You can make a direct donation to help cover the costs of bringing asylum seekers to Pride events.
IBAN: NL47 TRIO 0212 4621 72
In the name of: Stichting LGBT Asylum Support
