The good old days: Amsterdam Canal Parade 2008
Today, August 2nd, Amsterdam hosts the annual Canal Parade, the event where the LHBTQIA+ community shows its most colorful and proud side.
Yet, many have experienced this celebration with mixed feelings in recent years. The freedoms that seemed self-evident for so long are noticeably under pressure. There is a palpable tension in society, which also affects the atmosphere during Pride. For some, the celebration feels less carefree than before. It is now not just a party, but also a demonstration; a necessary reminder that acquired rights should never be taken for granted.
Hence this look back to 2008: when times were brighter for the LGBTQ+ community.
For many, Canal Parade then felt like a carefree, exuberant, colorful celebration of the victory for equal rights; people felt freer and happier in their expressions. The need to fight for one's place in society seemed less urgent, and the focus was entirely on celebrating diversity in all its forms. The hope is that the time of self-evident tolerance and carefree celebrations will soon return.
The good old days: Amsterdam Canal Parade 2008
Today, August 2nd, Amsterdam hosts the annual Canal Parade, the event where the LHBTQIA+ community shows its most colorful and proud side.
Yet, many have experienced this celebration with mixed feelings in recent years. The freedoms that seemed self-evident for so long are noticeably under pressure. There is a palpable tension in society, which also affects the atmosphere during Pride. For some, the celebration feels less carefree than before. It is now not just a party, but also a demonstration; a necessary reminder that acquired rights should never be taken for granted.
Hence this look back to 2008: when times were brighter for the LGBTQ+ community.
For many, Canal Parade then felt like a carefree, exuberant, colorful celebration of the victory for equal rights; people felt freer and happier in their expressions. The need to fight for one's place in society seemed less urgent, and the focus was entirely on celebrating diversity in all its forms. The hope is that the time of self-evident tolerance and carefree celebrations will soon return.