Photo: Martijn van Veen
Interview: Paul Hofman
This officer of Moroccan descent has worked with the police for more than 20 years. Souad Boumedien wants to use her ambassadorship to build alliances and fight exclusion. “With the theme This Is My Pride we celebrate being human, however different we are. We breathe the same air and we need each other. Let’s make something beautiful of it.”
Interview
“I AM WHO I AM. PERIOD.”
Police officer, farmer, lesbian and Moroccan — Souad Boumedien is all of these. This year this remarkable woman is also an ambassador. She became known, among other things, for organising the first Moroccan boat in 2015 during the Canal Parade. The passionate advocate for equal rights for LGBTi people often appears in the media. Recently she took part in a powerful documentary in which she was portrayed together with other Moroccans. In a wide-ranging interview she speaks openly about Pride, her work and her mission as an ambassador. “The public debate has undeniably hardened on LGBTi issues.”
She walks into the café we arranged to meet in, smiling. Appropriately, Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ is playing in the background. “That’s my favourite song,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. She immediately opens up and says she is incredibly proud to be one of the faces of Pride this year. “It gave me goosebumps when I was called and asked to be an ambassador. I literally jumped around the living room.” She intends to give LGBTi people both a literal and figurative face. “Also those who are still in the closet,” Souad emphasizes. “You will see me, like the other ambassadors, in many places across the city during the upcoming Pride. My mission is to counter exclusion in all its forms.” Together with the Gebroeders Grimm, Ana Paula Lima, Sjors van der Panne, Shary-An and Niki Today she will no doubt play that bridging role with verve.
Proudly she shows a promo from the NTR documentary in which she and other Moroccans speak about, among other things, the culture of shame and social pressure within Moroccan families. “It was quite nerve‑wracking to see the footage again. Watching it brought back a lot for me.” The reactions were heartwarming. “Sexuality is a sensitive topic in Morocco, let alone homosexuality. It’s taboo. To put it in perspective: “But the same applies when a boy and a girl kiss in public.” Together with Mohamed Chaibi she two years ago
initiated participating with a Moroccan boat in the Canal Parade. The event received worldwide attention. “I never expected it would have such an impact. Honestly, I underestimated that. For me it was a personal milestone.”
Her most treasured memory of a Gay Pride? “That was definitely the moment in the late nineties when I met a beautiful woman at a party. I had just come out, so you can imagine how nervous I was.” Souad becomes visibly shy. Her mischievous look says enough.
She has worked for the Dutch police for more than twenty years. In addition to being a member of the gay network Roze in Blauw, she is also a confidant for Moroccan colleagues within the police force. As a lesbian woman with Moroccan roots, she seems a worthy successor to Amsterdam police spokesperson Ellie Lust.
This year’s Pride theme fits her perfectly, it seems.
Souad has a clear mission that aligns perfectly with the motto of Pride Amsterdam. “With ‘This is my Pride’ we celebrate being human, however different we may be. After all, don’t we all want to be happy? We simply need each other.”
“By being visible I want to give encouragement to young people who are still in the closet. I want to include everyone.”
By engaging in the discussion she receives a lot of support from heterosexual Moroccans. A man recently said that the debate sparked was positive for Amsterdam and for diversity within the Moroccan community. She realises not everyone will judge positively. “We are on our way. People talking to each other is an important start. Slowly we are making progress.” She sees it as pure gain. She beams.
The tough Souad looks to the future with confidence. “Emancipation is progressing rapidly. Who would have thought twenty years ago that a Moroccan boat would join?” She hopes more LGBTi Dutch people of Moroccan background will step forward to be role models. With her presence and message she certainly won’t be missed. “It will be a celebration of openness. Being lesbian and Moroccan go very well together.” As we say goodbye she laughs: “If Morocco gets a COC, I can die peacefully.” From she will celebrate Pride with her wife and friends. Souad, a police officer through and through, cannot wait for Pride to begin.
Pride Ambassador since 2017
