Dutch Prime Minister calls for coming out at World Pride in Amsterdam

During Amsterdam's vibrant World Pride Canal Parade, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten encouraged young LGBTQI+ individuals to embrace their identities and come out. Addressing the crowd from a boat, Jetten, who is the Netherlands' youngest prime minister and the first to be openly gay, described coming out as a challenging but ultimately rewarding step.

"Coming out is not easy, but once you dare to take that step, it only gets better," Jetten stated, according to the ANP news agency. The traditional Canal Parade, a major event during World Pride, featured 80 colorfully decorated boats and was celebrated as a festival of freedom and joy. However, Jetten emphasized its dual role as a platform to protest against increasing hostility faced by the LGBTQI+ community.

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Coming out is not easy, but once you dare to take that step, it only gets better.

He specifically referenced the recent attack at a Pride event in Berlin, highlighting that acceptance of the LGBTQI+ community is under pressure globally. "And it is important to show that today," Jetten asserted. The Netherlands is hosting World Pride for the first time, drawing an estimated 500,000 visitors to the Amsterdam boat parade alone.

Security measures for the multi-day World Pride event were heightened following the religiously motivated attack on the Christopher Street Day (CSD) event in Berlin the previous week. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema assured that police, the public prosecutor's office, and the city administration are working closely to ensure the safety of all Pride events, expressing confidence in the implemented measures.

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And it is important to show that today.