Symposium 'Take Your Space'

Take Your Space

As a prelude to Purple Friday, The Lighthouse, in collaboration with the minor Sexuality and Diversity, is organizing the symposium Take Your Space on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Take a look at this page for more information about the activities on Purple Friday, December 13!   

In a time when LGBTQIA+ people are increasingly confronted with negative messages and sentiment in the media and society, we invite students and staff to take their space. The theme "Take Your Space" is a call to make your voice heard and stand up for who you are. Together, we will reflect on how space has been created for equality in the past. We will also explore how, today, we can foster a safe and inclusive environment both at school and in society. Join us, share your experiences, and discover how we can support each other in making the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community visible. 

Programme  

All participants are welcome from 13:30 in the Atrium for a welcome drink. The event will be hosted by drag queen Miss Magic Merlot. The symposium will start at 14:00 in the Speakers’ Corner. We will wrap up the day festively with a networking drink and a drag performance by Miss Magic Merlot at 16:15. 

Registration  

As always, it's free for students and staff! Please sign up in advance:

Sign up!

Lecture 'Take Your Space' by Mathieu Heemelaar

Language: Dutch

In recent years, there has been a global anti-rights movement that, in the Netherlands as well, opposes the rights of LGBTQIA+ people and women. In this lecture, Mathieu Heemelaar will describe the background of the anti-rights movement and the negative consequences it has for people’s freedom and development. He will also offer insights into the counter-movement and what citizens can effectively do together to combat this. The core of this is to assertively claim space and fight the anti-rights movement in solidarity. 

Mathieu Heemelaar (born 1955) has been an LGBTQIA+ activist his entire life. From 1989 to 2021, he taught sexuality and diversity at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and developed the Minor in Sexuality and Diversity, which is now celebrating its first lustrum (5 years). 

Spoken Word with Vlinder Verouden, Keanu Neral, and Yams 

Language: Dutch & English

During the symposium, we will welcome three special artists to the stage: Vlinder Verouden, Keanu Neral, and Yams. These spoken word artists each have a unique style and use their talent to claim their own space—both on stage and beyond. 

Spoken word is a dynamic performance art that conveys words and emotions in a rhythmic way. It combines poetry, storytelling, rap, and theater to bring themes such as social justice, identity, and personal experiences to life. The performance—with its intonation, tempo, and body language—gives the text extra impact and resonates with the audience. 

Panel Discussion and Poster Presentation 

Language: Dutch & English

For five years, the Minor in Sexuality and Diversity has been committed to increasing the visibility of LGBTQIA+ individuals through education and projects, including the peer education project. Students from cohort 24-25 will present research posters showing how they contribute to visibility in high schools and within GSAs. Students also collaborate with the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) in a research project at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. 

During the panel discussion, we will explore how strategies—from spoken word to activism and safe spaces—contribute to courage and visibility. Speakers include lecturers and students from The Hague University of Applied Sciences’ Gender and Sexuality Alliance, the Minor in Sexuality and Diversity, and European Studies, along with partners from COC Haaglanden and the peer-to-peer intervention project.