Photography: Prisma Compositional
Video: Paradox Productions
Interview: Paul Hofman
For sixteen-year-old Justin Hermsen it was a huge surprise to be nominated as candidate youth ambassador. Justin was speechless when he heard he had been unanimously chosen by the jury that Sunday afternoon in February at A’DAM TOWER. “You’re not the only gay in town!”
After the celebration, surrounded by a partying crowd and with a beautiful view over the city, we spoke with an enthusiastic Justin about his youth, ambitions and dreams — and of course the ambassadorship. His first reaction to being chosen? “I felt a big wow — for me this is the icing on the cake to be able to do this.” Together with ambassador Jeffrey Wammes he forms Pride’s 2J’s.
BIBLE-BELT
As the youngest son he grew up in Rhenen, near Utrecht, a town on the edge of the Bible Belt. The deeply religious community believes men and women belong together. Homosexuality is heavily tabooed. He attends a public school where homosexuality does not seem to be a taboo topic, but he adds a caveat: “It’s easy to say, but it’s still hard to be different from others. Being gay near the Bible Belt is quite difficult.” During his ambassadorship he will repeatedly stress that people outside the Randstad belong too. “This isn’t an Amsterdam-only party.”
TWELVE YEARS OLD
“At twelve I discovered I found boys more attractive than girls. I saw a very handsome boy and thought: wow! At the same time I thought it couldn’t be right. Maybe it would pass.” But the feeling remained. Although his parents are open-minded, he decided to keep his ‘secret’ to himself. He did share it with a niece he fully trusted. At fourteen he knew for sure. “The feeling when you come out is indescribable. Finally I could express my feelings. I’m just gay. Period.” To about his coming out, he says he mainly felt very lonely. “I felt unheard and often alone.” Later he became active in his school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance.
DOORTASTEND
Although busy with schoolwork, he quickly expanded his network. His enthusiasm and decisiveness were decisive. “I’m proud of who I am. I have great people around me. My family and friends support me tremendously.” When he told his mother he was gay, she said: “Then we can look at boys together.”
STRIJDVAARDIG
Around him he sees ignorance and sometimes hate. “Together with some other students I organised Purple Friday at my school last year.” But it didn’t run smoothly at first, he says. “I was presenting a show in the auditorium when someone stood up and threw a piece of cucumber at me. I reacted impulsively and exposed him. That incident stuck with me. After that there was a discussion about homosexuality. I can be quick-witted and always have something to say. Events like that make me more combative.” He regularly receives hateful comments on social media. Doesn’t that hurt? Justin, usually a chatterbox, falls silent for a moment. “Personally it doesn’t affect me much, it doesn’t touch me.” But it strengthens his conviction that Pride is still necessary. “And look at that Nashville Statement earlier this year — you can smell the homophobia. You’re tolerated, but accepted? No.”
A THOUSAND PERCENT
He strongly relates to this year’s Pride theme ‘Remember the past, create the future’“I’ll never forget the Stonewall protesters of 1969. They fought hard for our rights. Their generation stood for the ideals of freedom and respect. We, as young people, now take up the baton. I think there’s still a lot to win. I fight for one goal: everyone matters, whatever your background or sexuality. I’ll give it a thousand percent. I will never give up that fight.” His motto? “Be yourself — that’s when you’re at your best — but don’t always take yourself too seriously.”
MEETELLEN
As youth ambassador he mainly wants to send the message that as a young gay person you count and you shouldn’t be pushed into a corner. Especially not at strongly Christian schools, he adds. “Know that you matter, that you’re not alone. I also want to give a voice to people who aren’t heard.” He continues: “Judge me by my actions, not by how I look or who I love.”
ROLMODEL
Does he serve as a role model? “The ambassadorship is the icing on the cake for me. If I can inspire just one person, I’ve achieved my goal.” When people ask him whether Pride is still necessary, he always replies wittily. “A straight person is socially accepted and isn’t beaten up, spat on or insulted because of their orientation. An LGBT person is.” The ambassadorship suits him perfectly.
STRIP
At the last minute he expresses his astonishment that a discussion arose about the lesbian couple in the Dutch Donald Duck comic. “I thought that was and is ridiculous. Homosexuality is part of reality — it should be normal.” His eyes light up. He keeps stressing that education is most important. “You can’t start too early with that.”
Pride has gained a combative curly-haired ambassador. He laughs shyly and repeats: “Always remember you’re not the only ‘gay in town’.” His diary is now filling up fast. “My schoolwork suffers a bit. It’s uncertain whether I’ll move up to fifth year. But in any case: I’m living towards Pride and enjoying the preparations to the fullest.” As far as he’s concerned, Pride Amsterdam can’t start soon enough.
‘YOU’RE AT YOUR BEST WHEN YOU’RE YOURSELF’
‘WE OWE OUR FREEDOM TO THE PREVIOUS GENERATION, NOW WE TAKE UP THE BATON’
“VOLUNTEERING IS NOT OPTIONAL”
Pride ambassador since 2019
