menu
© Petra-Gijzen

LGBT+ Politics and Representation

The year 2021 marks a milestone for the representation of LGBT+ people in Dutch politics, as the first trans woman was elected into parliament. This evening, academics, politicians and activists from the US and the Netherlands draw lessons from a trans-Atlantic comparison of LGBT+ rights and representation, discuss the challenges of cracking the LGBT+ glass ceiling, and formulate strategies towards more inclusive politics.

This is an online event

The presence of ‘out’ elected officials in politics worldwide is increasing and LGBT+ people are holding their nation’s highest offices, while advocating for issues that go far beyond sexuality and gender identity. However, increased political visibility is often accompanied by increased backlash, as LGBT+ politicians are faced with misogyny, homophobia and transphobia. What challenges do LGBT+ politicians face and what factors facilitate or hinder LGBT+ visibility in politics? Comparing and contrasting the Netherlands with the debate in the United States can locate these struggles for representation of LGBT+ rights in a global frame.

This event takes place in the context of the visiting scholarship of Prof. Andrew Reynolds (Princeton University) and is organized by the Amsterdam Center for European Studies (ACES) in the Diverse Europe theme group at the University of Amsterdam.

About the speakers

Lisa van Ginneken is a member of the Dutch Parliament for the social liberal party Democrats 66 (D66). In 2021, she became the first trans woman in the Netherlands to be elected into the House of Representatives, with a portfolio on government digitalization, privacy, personal and family law and identity.

Katie Hill is a former member of the United States House of Representatives and one of the first openly bisexual members of US Congress.

Sarah McBride is a United States State Senator in Delaware and the highest ranking transgender elected official. McBride is largely credited with the passage of legislation in Delaware banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

Andrew Reynolds is a faculty member in the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and a Professor of Political Science (on leave) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Reynolds is one of the leading scholars on LGBT+ representation in the world. His latest book The Children of Harvey Milk: How LGBTQ Politicians Changed the World has been lauded as a groundbreaking study of the impact of out queer elected officials.

vreer verkerke is dual-councilor for BIJ1 in the Amsterdam city council, until recently board member of Transgender Europe (TGEU) and founder of trans activist collective for trans* health care Principle 17.

Tofik Dibi (moderator) is a former member of the Dutch Parliament for the Green Party and author of Djinn, a coming-out memoir of marginalization and embracing his sexual orientation as queer and his Muslim identity.

Gerelateerde programma’s
23 03 26
​​De symfonie van onvrede: de opmars van radicaal-rechts in Europa​

De symfonie van onvrede is een persoonlijke en analytische verkenning van de opkomst van radicaal-rechts in Europa. In het boek verbindt Catherine de Vries haar eigen familiegeschiedenis met haar jarenlange academische studie naar politieke onvrede en politieke strategie van radicaal-rechtse partijen. Ze laat zien hoe structurele veranderingen in de samenleving, van het Nederlandse platteland tot Zuid-Italië, hebben bijgedragen aan een gevoel van verlies en woede, en hoe die gevoelens politiek worden gekanaliseerd. 

Datum
Maandag 23 mrt 2026 20:00 uur
Locatie
SPUI25
Aanmelden
27 10 25
De politieke bril van de econoom

In verkiezingstijd wemelt het van de economische analyses, voorspellingen en modellen. Het CPB berekent partijprogramma’s door en cijfers worden in debatten vaak opgebracht als objectieve feiten in een zee van politieke beloften. Maar hoe politiek is de bril van de econoom eigenlijk?

Datum
Maandag 27 okt 2025 20:00 uur
Locatie
SPUI25
02 10 25
Oneindigheid – een filosofische gids

Het oneindige is grenzeloos fascinerend. Het lijkt evident dat wij eindige wezens het oneindige nooit zullen begrijpen. Toch duikt het telkens opnieuw op in de filosofie – we kunnen er kennelijk ook niet aan ontkomen. Aan de hand van de vele denkers die zich met het thema hebben beziggehouden, leidt filosoof Victor Gijsbers ons in zijn nieuwe boek Oneindigheid langs de belangrijkste vragen over het oneindige in de wiskunde, de natuur, de werkelijkheid en het menselijk leven. Dichter Lieke Marsman komt voordragen uit eigen werk. 

Datum
Donderdag 2 okt 2025 20:00 uur
Locatie
SPUI25