Around 80 vibrant pride boats sailed through Amsterdam’s historic canals on Saturday, marking the grand finale of a week-long LGBTQ+ celebration.
The colourful parade stood in sharp contrast to recent crackdowns on LGBTQ+ rights in fellow EU member Hungary, highlighting Amsterdam’s continued commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
While the colourful flotilla is not officially political, many attendees used the occasion to voice criticism against ongoing global conflicts and world leaders over their stance on LGBTQ+ rights and policies, highlighting the need for greater inclusivity and protection worldwide.
‘Form Of Oppression’
Thehany Gilmore, a 43-year-old Dutch-Caribbean dressed in a leather outfit with a whip, said banning of the Budapest pride parade “is a form of oppression.”
“People everywhere should have their own pride to be able to represent who they are,” she said.
Trump Targeted
Palestinian flags were spotted among the crowd of revelers, and Dutch police arrested four activists who had jumped in the water to vandalize the Booking.com boat in protest over its listings in settlements in Israeli-occupied territories.
Others criticised US President Donald Trump, whose administration introduced anti-trans policies and slashed funding for international aid programmes, causing a major setback to HIV prevention efforts across several African countries.
Some waved a hybrid US/Pride flag, while one boat declared itself a ‘Trump-Free Pride Boat’ with signs reading ‘Trans Rights Are Human Rights.’ Another featured mock graveyards and the message ‘Trump’s Actions Kill. Love Saves Lives,’ highlighting fears over US AIDS funding cuts.
‘US Needs To Reinvent Itself’
“Amsterdam Pride is… about expressing yourself, showing who you are, being grateful for the freedom that we have in Europe. The US really needs to reinvent itself… be more open about people,” 40-year-old Michael Jacobs, who hails from Dutch port city Rotterdam, said.
“Don’t judge people for who they are. Just love each other.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
