Spurred by a sharp rise in anti-gay attacks, the city’s crime stoppers are mulling new, covert methods of curbing homo-haters:
The Amsterdam police are considering sending undercover officers posing as homosexual men onto the streets of the capital in an effort to combat increasing aggression against gays. The chief of Amsterdam police Bernard Welten said this in an interview that appears in the Gay Krant on Friday.
“But only as an extreme measure, and only if victims have become much more willing to report incidents than they are now,” Welten added.
There have been 21 reported attacks this year alone, higher than all of last year’s incidents. Does this mean there are more anti-gay attacks? Not necessarily.
It does mean, however, that more people are coming forward. It also means more arrests: coppers have nabbed a dozen alleged bashers. Not a perfect record, no, but a step in the right direction.
Tallskin
And ALL the assaults on gays have been by muslim immigrant youth.
Nuff said.
juliansorl
Anyone know what’s going on in the city of Amsterdam? It’s hard for me to fathom this going on in the city where gay marriage has been in effect for years and where the Homo monument resides. I’ve been there many times and never have experienced any trouble. What gives?
cjc
See above, julian. It’s angry radicalized young Muslim immigrant youth who won’t/can’t/refuse to assimilate into Dutch society.
Tallskin
It was the physical and verbal assaults on gays that maddened Pim Fortyn (the “flamboyant” gay tv personality) enough to form a right wing party, back in 2001 – the straw that broke his camel’s back (bad pun!) was the Amsterdam chief imman sayinging gays are worse than dogs.
He was shot dead whilst in the hustings by a loony (white) green activist who justified himself by saying that Fortyn was a racist.
My boyfriend was queerbashed in amsterdam and robbed back in the 90s by muslim yoof, before PC attitudes had crumbled enough for people to openly talk about the issue.
juliansorl
Geez, I am going there for thanksgiving, but this maybe the last time for me and my partner unless Amsterdam gets tough against these idiots -now.
Tallskin
Tch, don’t be so fracking american! Jeeez, the city is safe enough, just be cautious and make sure you are in a group.
Dawster
I was warned by several people in the city to be careful (as an American) of the Muslim area… they were a angry bunch and (at the time) it had to do with the new law about women that prevented muslim women to **do whatever it is that they are suppose to do with a scarf in public** and it was a sore subject to the muslim community.
Still, it’s basically the same for every major city in the U.S.: stay in well lit areas, be mindful of your behavior, pay attention to what’s around you, and keep towards the crowds.
i go by myself, walked about by myself, and never had/saw a problem. Stay toward the center of the city, keep on the main roads… etc.
Martini-boy
Tallskin, are you sure that “ALL” the attacks were by Muslims? I’d like to see a credible source stating this, thanks.
cjc
From the press review of Radio Netherlands, citing De Telegraaf:
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/pr/pr070704
Anti-gay crime
A number of the papers cover the growing number of anti-gay attacks on the streets of Amsterdam. The AD says the police have already received ten reports of such violence this year. There were only 15 such reports in the whole of 2006.
De Telegraaf says most of those attacked blame youths of Moroccan descent. In its editorial, the paper reminds us that equality for gays is “embedded in the constitution and can’t be messed about with”. The problem has its roots, the paper believes, in early education both at home and at school. This has to be tackled, even if the idea of gay equality “is contrary to some religious views”.
juliansorl
Listen, I’m not afraid – I’ve had the pleasure unfortunately of living in the worst areas in the biggest cities in this country – but if amsterdam’s city officials don’t start actively protecting gays instead of just tolerating them then i will spend my money elsewhere. It’s no vacation looking over your shoulder.
Dawster
Martini-boy: if you do a little research on the interweb, you’ll find that this has actually been a long standing culture war. as Amsterdam becomes more tolerant, it infringes on the muslim religion. the violence has been going on for a while… even a catholic school was burned to the ground, and the like.
i guess the “gay thing” is the latest wave… i suppose, but it has been a long standing issue for the city.
Tallskin
Personally speaking if I lived in Amsterdam I’d form /join a “Queers Bash Back” Group and patrol the streets like we formed here in London during the 90s – which was a spin off group from OutRage! and used to patrol the cruising grounds after a series of queerbashing events.
Fear not, it wasn’t violent but was for publicity and intended to shame the police into doing their damned job. We left posters pinned to trees etc warning queerbashers that we were there and would kick the shit of them! Sadly or gladly we never managed to find any of the cowardly fucks.