Interview: Paul Hofman
Politics and human rights are close to his heart. In the mid‑1990s Boris Dittrich (65) became a D66 member of the Dutch House of Representatives. As an openly gay man he became a prominent figure in the fight for equal rights for LGBT+ people. This year he is an ambassador for Pride Amsterdam. “We still have a lot to overcome to achieve equal rights and equal opportunities.”
A year ago Boris returned to politics. In 2006 he stepped down as leader of the social-liberal D66 to become Director, Minorities, at the human rights organisation Human Rights Watch — a role he performed with distinction. Still, he couldn’t leave politics behind. A year ago he became a member of the Senate for D66. Boris also writes books. His new novelTerug naar Tarvod isreleased in late May.
In his scarce free time and while travelling, Boris writes crime novels. They are often thrillers in which LGBT+ people are not a spectacle but detectives solving murders.
Asylum
When he was asked to be an ambassador for Pride Amsterdam 2020, Boris responded with enthusiasm. “I’m happy to be ambassador for the whole Pride Week because I stand for inclusivity and compassion. People who must flee their country because of serious threats, exclusion or discrimination have the right to seek asylum elsewhere and to build a new life in safety.”
From up close he experienced what it is to be an asylum seeker. “My father fled his country himself. From personal experience I know how important it is that the Netherlands does not shut its borders hermetically, but remains open to those who urgently need safety here.”
Diversity of colours
The ambassadorship means a lot to him. “Our community is colourful and diverse. As a white man I am part of it. As ambassador I especially want to reach people outside our community and show that we still have a long way to go before we can speak of equal rights and equal opportunities.”
His message? “First of all, I don’t want to be pigeonholed as a white cis man, gay. I’m also there for others from the communityand beyond. My message is that as a community we also need to stand in solidarity with others who are discriminated against for who they are.” Who does he mean? “People with physical or mental disabilities, people with a migration background, and women, for example. We must not be solely focused on ourselves.” He adds: “Navel-gazing won’t get us anywhere, and internal division certainly won’t.”
Not a party animal
He already has ideas about how he will fulfil his ambassadorship. “I want to be visible by actively participating in the nine-day programme, especially between the Pride Walk and the Boat Parade.” Boris is full of ideas. “Think, for example, of organising events where we talk about the harms of conversion therapy (prayer cures for sexual orientation or gender identity) and other human rights violations.” It’s no surprise that as a writer he wants to organise a literary evening with LGBT+ authors. “There is so much more than just partying. I’m not much of a party animal — they don’t need me for that.”
Painful
Boris says he has attended countless Prides. “The Pride that impressed me most was the one in Moscow in 2007. I was there as an observer for Human Rights Watch and knew that the Russian authorities had no tolerance for homosexuality. I stood in the middle of it when religious groups started beating LGBT+ people and little grandmothers with baskets of eggs came forward. Others began throwing those eggs at us. The police just stood by and watched. That hatred and the police’s indifference were really painful to witness. It made me realise how fortunate we are in the Netherlands.”
He is proud of this year’s Pride theme. “Take Pride in Us for me personally means that others can be proud of us. I hope they will look beyond the boxes of LGBT+ and see us as full human beings who matter to society, and that our sexual orientation or gender identity is just one facet of being human…”
Critics say Pride is no longer necessary. Their argument? Everything has already been achieved. But nothing could be further from the truth, Boris says. “We are far from there.”
Pride ambassador since 2021.
