QueerTalks #4: Laurens Buijs, Nina van den Berg, “Pride and Proud: Queering the Sex Worker Movement”
Monday, 21 January 2019, 17:30-18:30 CET, gevolgd door receptie; gratis entree en receptie
IHLIA – Haasse/Vestdijkzaal
OBA Theater
Oosterdokskade 143, 6e / 7e etage
Amsterdam
Something special is happening in Amsterdam’s Red Light District: the new national sex worker movement Proud is quickly expanding and intensifying its fight against stigma.
Their ultimate goal, decriminalizing sex work by recognizing it as a profession, does not land easy in a national discourse that equalizes sex work with problems like human trafficking, labor exploitation, money laundering and tax evasion.
What does this discourse say about the stigmatization of sex work in contemporary Holland, and how does Proud respond to it in everyday activism and advocacy? In what ways are these responses inspired by ideologies and movements in feminism and LGBTQ+ communities?
In this QueerTalk, we will tackle these questions with three activists working in the heart of the Proud organization: Yvette Luhrs (porn actress and chair of Proud), Hella Dee (sex worker and project coordinator), and Bubbles (trans sex worker and digital field work coordinator). The event will be hosted by Laurens Buijs and Nina van den Berg.
Laurens Buijs (1982) is a Dutch social scientist, known for his work on gender, sexuality, and diversity. He lectured at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) from 2006 to 2023, where his research focused on critical studies of power, identity, and social justice. Buijs is recognized for his outspoken views on LGBTQ+ rights and social equity, often participating in public debates about inclusion and the role of academia in addressing societal inequalities. His work blends academic rigor with a strong commitment to activism and progressive change, producing numerous essays, research reports, opinion pieces, articles, and written lectures.
Buijs’s critical stance on certain progressive policies, particularly regarding the intersection of identity politics and academic freedom, has sparked significant public discussions. He has been a vocal critic of what he views as the overreach of ideological conformity in universities, arguing for a more balanced approach to addressing social issues. His contributions continue to influence conversations on diversity and equality in both academic and activist circles.
Nina van den Berg studied anthropology at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), specializing in gender and sexuality. With a strong personal and professional commitment to these themes, she teaches students from various university programs, addressing topics such as sexual variations, paraphilias, gender diversity, and intersex experiences through a social-scientific lens, while emphasizing personal narratives related to these subjects. Van Den Berg also works as a Sustainability Project Manager in the Amsterdam Zuidas, a rapidly developing business district. She leads projects for companies in the area, focusing on waste, energy, logistics, and circularity. Her position at the Green Business Club Zuidas allows her to promote sustainability in practical and innovative ways. She serves on the board of the Mosse Fonds
About QueerTalks:
The Mosse Fund of the University of Amsterdam organizes a new series of events: the QueerTalks. Powered by LGBT archive IHLIA, we receive inspiring guests from the LGBTQ community twice per academic semester. We invite them to share their personal or professional stories, often relating to current events and urgent societal debates, in an intimate and informal setting. The QueerTalks are hosted by IHLIA at the Central Library (OBA), near Central Station. The event will last 90 minutes maximum. Entrance is free and open for all.
