Iedereen is anders [Everyone is different]
Do you have doubts or questions about who you are most attracted to: girls, boys or both? Do you have doubts about who you are: more a girl, more a boy? Or are convinced that you have homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex+ feelings? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then iedereenisanders.nl is the site for you. That is where you can find the best info and tips about being “different”.
Je staat niet alleen [You are not alone]
This site offers help to girls from ethnic minority backgrounds who (temporarily) can’t see the point of living any more. For professionals and parent, too, this site offers information about how they can help girls who belong to ethnic minorities.
jestaatnietalleen.hababam.nl
COC Nederland
As the Dutch national advocacy organisation for gay and bisexual men and women, transgenders and intersex+ people, COC works for the emancipation of lesbians and gays. Their activities include influencing political policy and visiting schools to talk with classes.
COC Amsterdam
Join COC’s Trans United, the safe community for transgenders with a bi-cultural background. For more information, click here: www.trans-united.org
COC Amsterdam offers legal consultation by telephone
During the legal-consultation hours, you can get information about and receive support in the following areas:
- Family law: gay parenthood, divorce, separation, alimony;
- Inheritance law;
- Transgender issues;
- Labour law;
- Discrimination and violent crimes;
If necessary, you will be referred to an appropriate agency that can help you further.
The legal-consultation hours are Tuesdays from 11am to 12pm and Wednesdays from 5pm to 6pm.
E-mail: info@gaylegal.nl
www.gaylegal.nl
www.cocamsterdam.nl/thema/activiteiten/advocatenspreekuur
COC Haaglanden
Telephone: 070-364-4888
E-mail: mw@cochaaglanden.nl
Respect2Love
Join Respect2Love, COC’s community of young multicultural people.
www.respect2love.nl or look on www.facebook.com/respect2love
Transvisie
Transvisie Zorg offers psychological care on a national basis to young people and adults with gender-identity problems. In collaboration with Lucertis Kinder- and jeugdpsychiatrie, they also offer this type of care to children. In addition, they advise and guide schools and professionals who need to deal with students or patients with gender identity problems.
Telephone: 020-205-0913 | E-mail: info@transvisiezorg.nl
www.psyq.nl/genderdysforie/over-transvisiezorg
Transvisie (patient organisation) is open to transsexuals and transgenders and to people who have questions about their gender identity, but also to anyone who is important to them (partners, parents, brothers and sisters). Transvisie provides a context in which diverse groups of people can meet and talk with each other. Within the patient organisation, group discussions among peers form the main focus. Their work is based on self-help and volunteer work by people who have experience with transsexuality or being transgender.
For more information, see: www.transvisie.net/
Veilig Thuis
Veilig Thuis is always available via the toll-free telephone number 0800-2000, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. This means you can call them at any time.
www.020veiligthuis.nl/jongeren/contact-met-veilig-thuis/
Roze in Blauw: the LGBTQI+ team within the Amsterdam police force
Have you been abused, discriminated against, harassed or robbed because you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex+? If so, always report that to the police.
Roze in Blauw [Pink in Blue] is a special team within the Amsterdam police force that serves as the point of contact for the LGBTQI+ community if someone has been the victim of a crime or abuse in relation to their sexual diversity or gender identity.
In case of emergency, call 112. In less urgent cases, call 0900-8844.
If you would prefer to speak with a police officer who is part of Roze in Blauw, call: 088-169-1234 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) or send an e-mail to: rozeinblauw.amsterdam@politie.nl.
De Regenbooggroep Amsterdam
The Regenbooggroep [Rainbow group] organises buddies for LGBTI+ people who live in social isolation and have psychological/psychiatric problems: www.deregenboog.org/lhbt-buddys. They also arrange for buddies for LGBTI+ status holders and refugees.
www.deregenboog.org/nieuws/nieuw-buddy-initiatief-voor-statushouders
I-psy (Intercultural psychiatrics)
This group has a section that is specialised in helping LGBTI+ people.
ASKV Refugee Support for asylum seekers whose asylum application has been rejected
Over the past few years the ASKV has seen many LGBTQI+ refugees whose initial asylum application was rejected. Often that was because the refugee was afraid to tell his or her real story. The legal team at ASKV, consisting of volunteers and asylum lawyers, analyses the person’s dossier and looks for things that could lead to legal residency for him or her. In the case of LGBTQI+ asylum seekers, ASKV works together with lawyers who have built up expertise regarding this particular target group. They also support their clients in obtaining material that can be used as evidence.
Telephone: 020-627-2408 (Monday through Thursday, 10am to 5pm)
E-mail: info@askv.nl
Prisma Praktijk (psychologists)
Prisma Praktijk offers psychological therapy and coaching. Among other things, they also have groups specifically for gay men. Those are for gay or bisexual men (aged 21 and older) with psychological and psychosocial issues who want to break out of negative patterns and strengthen their self-image and their homosexual identity.
E-mail: amsterdam@prisma-praktijk.nl
Contact persons:
Bauke Kortleve (see: www.prisma-praktijk.nl/bauke_kortleve)
Jari Harju (see: www.prisma-praktijk.nl/jari_harju)
HVO Querido Proud People
In June 2017, HVO Querido launched the network Proud People. This LGBTQI+ and diversity network provides opportunities for people to meet each other and to get support.
www.hvoquerido.nl/proud-people/
Rozehulpverlening.nl
Psychosocial services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex+ clients
On the website of Rozehulpverlening [Pink psychosocial services], you can find contact information for more than 150 social workers and psychologists as well as ten organisations that have an affinity and experience with provide psychosocial services to clients with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex+ feelings. This means they are positive towards “pink” lifestyles and have knowledge about the way in which a person’s homosexuality can influence the way they function (psychologically), for example.
For more information, see: www.rozehulpverlening.nl.
Veilige Haven Amsterdam
If you’re from a non-western cultural and/or religious background, you might find it hard to deal with your gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex+ feelings. You might find it hard to discuss those feelings with others and you might even question your identity. You might feel sad, scared or lonely. Veilige Haven Amsterdam provides psychosocial support to people with LGBTI+ feelings from different cultural backgrounds. We can help you arrange your life in a way that suits you. We are an independent organisation with professional social workers whom you can turn to for information, advice and counselling.
Please contact us by filling in the contact form on www.veiligehavenamsterdam.nl or by calling us at 020-557-3329.
Veilige Haven Utrecht
Veilige Haven Utrecht is for bi-cultural and/or Muslim LGBTQI+ people in Utrecht and the surrounding area. You can turn to them if you would like to talk confidentially with a psychosocial services professional. For more information about Veilige Haven, send an e-mail to Isjed Ijaz Hussain, the coordinator of the group: isjed.hussain@gmail.com.
Veilige Haven Oost Nederland
Imagine that you are young (between 16 and 25 years old), you have a different cultural background than the average Dutch person your age, and you find yourself falling in love with boys (as boy) or with girls (as a girl), or something even more complicated. Or you feel that you are a boy in a girl’s body, or vice versa.
Veilige Haven Oost [East] is for such boys and girls. But you can also turn to us if you don’t feel safe or if someone you know isn’t safe or is having problems.
Consultation hours: every Tuesday and Friday evening from 8pm to 9:30pm by telephone: 06-3400-0277.
E-mail: info@veiligehavenoost.nl
Maruf
Maruf is the platform for queer Muslims in the Netherlands and beyond.
Growing up as a lesbian, a gay man, a transgender, bisexual, or anything else in a Muslim community can be very difficult. You will have to deal with many different opinions and challenges. Do I have to choose who I am? Can I be Muslim and still be true to myself? Do I choose for my faith or for integration? For my family or for my own happiness? You are not the only one. Even more important: you are not alone.
www.stichtingmaruf.com/overmaruf.html
The Inner Circle
This organisation of the South African imam Muhsin Hendricks offers information about Islam and homosexuality.
For more information, see: http://theinnercircle.org.za/
Landelijk expertisecentrum eergerelateerd geweld [National Expertise Centre for Honour-related Violence]
In recent years, violence in general and “honour-related violence” in particular have been an important focal point in the Dutch government’s safety policy. The Dutch Cabinet has made it clear, for example, that in (potential) cases of honour-related violence, the safety of the victim must be the top priority (Dutch Parliamentary Papers II, 2004-2005, 29 203, no. 25). In addition, the approach to be taken should focus on preventing honour-related violence at the earliest possible stage by making the best possible use of preventive opportunities.
For more information, see: www.leceergerelateerdgeweld.nl/
GenderTalent
GenderTalent offers work-related coaching for people with a gender-diverse background. They work together with a large number of professional coaches that can help you find the right job or employer – before, during and after your transition. The coaching programmes have been developed especially for transpeople, whether they are looking for employment or already have a job, whether they are still studying or have only recently graduated.
After you have registered, GenderTalent will call you to make an appointment for an intake interview. During the intake, they will focus on your questions, your situation and your hopes for the future in order to determine which type of coaching would best suit you. It is also possible to combine items offered in the wide range services such as career counselling, guidance during transition, or help in searching for a suitable workplace or in solving problems at work.
Extra support: Learning to set priorities in terms of both your career and your private life; support in terms of getting a job or a work-experience placement or starting your own company
Other services: Workshops on how to apply for a job and how to give presentations, and quarterly coaching.
Contact: info@gendertalent.nl
Website: www.gendertalent.nl (registration form) Website (in Dutch) and click on "Aanmelden" for registration form.