Photography: Noah ValentynStyling & MUAH: Sjoerd WillemsenInterview: Paul Hofman
When asked to become ambassador of Pride Amsterdam 2018, Vanny Reyes was speechless for a moment. "I was euphoric and could hardly believe it. It's so honourable". In addition to his work as an information analyst at Amsterdam's transport company GVB, he is also a volunteer Encounter and Empowerment coordinator at COC Amsterdam in his sparse spare time. "It has become more than leisure work. My starting point: taking volunteering to a professional level."
Enthusiastically, Vanny Reys (45) talks about his youth, studies, work and ambassadorship. He is pre-eminently the face of the bicultural Dutchman. In fact, his roots are in Aruba, where he was born the youngest son of two from the marriage of a Colombian mother and Aruban father. In this time of hardening in our society, he is clearly not "the white person with privileges".
After finishing high school on the Leeward island, he decides to study in the Netherlands. The Netherlands does not let him go and he stays there. Even then, Amsterdam is his dream city.
Even before he comes to the Netherlands, he -officially- experiences his coming-out. It is the early nineties. "I started rebelling against my parents then. After their divorce, I told them. My mother was understanding. She knew all along. But my father reacted differently: he was not happy about it and did not speak to me for a long time afterwards." After he indicated to accept Vanny's homosexuality in 2003, they spoke to each other again. "Fortunately, I can now enjoy both my parents again," he says.
As an ambassador, he is going to promote volunteering and, of course, diversity and inclusiveness in it. The fact that he is already doing this for the Amsterdam COC is an absolute bonus. He knows the ropes like no other when it comes to LGBT+ people of wholly or partly foreign origin. "Safety comes first." Stresses that "not only organising activities is important, but also helping people stand up for themselves and make their own choices."
The Pride theme means a lot to him. Who himself is his biggest hero?
He does not have to think long before answering: "All the volunteers and my parents. Volunteers because they work in limited time, with passion and their hearts for the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity. And my parents because they have given me love, support and, above all, a foundation to be able to be myself."
"VOLUNTEERING IS NOT OPTIONAL"
Pride ambassador since 2018
