Blokhuis takes action against the taboo surrounding young people’s sexual orientation

Published Oct 28, 2019

State Secretary Paul Blokhuis is taking action in two ways to break the taboo among young people around talking about their sexual orientation. Young people who feel that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, non-binary or transgender think about suicide four to five times more often than their heterosexual peers.

Blokhuis takes action against the taboo surrounding young people’s sexual orientation

#kweetnie campaign

To make the subject easier to discuss, young people are reached on social media under the hashtag #kweetnie with the message that it is not a problem to be uncertain about your sexual orientation. Well-known influencers such as Jessie Maya and Rutger Vink share their stories on Instagram under that hashtag, for example, and explain that it is okay not to know yet who you are or what you feel. They also engage in conversations by asking young people what is troubling them.

iedereenisanders.nl website

In addition, the website www.iedereenisanders.nl has been renewed. With personal stories about what it is like to explore your sexual orientation, the site offers understanding and factual information. It is a platform where they can search anonymously and share experiences, without fear of being judged by those around them. The website also contains tips, information and stories from other LGBTQI people, so that young people can find recognition and affirmation to accept themselves and realise that they are not alone. Iedereenisanders.nl is a project of Movisie, COC Nederland and Stichting 113 in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.

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