Dutch men hold hands to protest against homophobia

BBC News ^ | 5th April 2017 | BBC News

[Ennis85]

Dutch men are uploading pictures of themselves holding hands on to social media to stand against homophobia. The trend was sparked by an alleged attack on two gay men on a street in the Netherlands on Sunday. The images are being shared via the hashtags #handinhand and #allemannenhandinhand (all men hand in hand). Politicians, celebrities, football pundits and workers have joined in, throughout the Netherlands and beyond.

Jasper Vernes-Sewratan, 35, and Ronnie Sewratan-Vernes, 31, say they were attacked by a group of men in the early hours of Sunday morning in Arnhem, in the country's east. Their story was widely publicised and they appeared on Dutch talk show Pauw earlier this week, where they described being set upon after holding hands.

The lawyer of one of the alleged attackers also appeared on the show, later in the week, claiming the pair threw the first punch. The couple have emphatically denied this.

Gay couples in Amsterdam and Eindhoven also reported being assaulted because of their sexuality over the weekend, according to Dutch media. In some parts of the world, including India and some African countries, men commonly hold hands, taking it as a sign of friendship and respect. The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage in 2011.

[Oatka]

I have been to many countries throughout the world and in many cultures men hold hands and women hold hands as friends, nothing sexual.

I was in Kuwait and did a double take when I saw men do that. Took me a couple of days to get used to it. That, and people averting their eyes when passing. "Shifty little bastards" I thought, until one of the locals said that to look someone in the eye was a sign of disrespect. This grasshopper had a lot to learn.

[vpintheak]

So thankful for Gods grace to guide my ancestors to America. Thank you Father!