Joke Swiebel, “1969: roze revolutie of verloren strijd?” / “1969: Pink Revolution or Lost Battle?”
Monday, 21 January 2019, 17:30 CET
OBA Theater
Oosterdokskade 143
Amsterdam
Joke Swiebel (b. 1941) is a Dutch politician, activist, and expert in the fields of human rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ rights. She has been a prominent advocate for social justice, focusing on equal rights and combating discrimination. She chaired the Federation of Student Working Groups on Homosexuality (FSWH) and was a COC Netherlands board member, helping organize the first European LGBTQ+ protest in 1969. After receiving her master’s degree in 1972 from the University of Amsterdam (UvA), she led the political science library and was involved in the establishment of the women’s studies program at the UvA.
Swiebel served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1999 to 2004, representing the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) and actively working on issues related to gender equality, social justice, and human rights within the European Union. Throughout her career, Swiebel has been involved in various policy initiatives, including the fight for women’s rights and gender mainstreaming in European policies. She also championed the rights of LGBTQ+ communities, promoting anti-discrimination legislation at both the national and European levels. Prior to her work in the European Parliament, she held key positions in Dutch government bodies, including serving as a senior advisor on gender equality policies.
Swiebel’s activism extends beyond her political career; she has written extensively on human rights issues, with a particular emphasis on the intersection of gender and sexual orientation. Upon the completion of her PhD in 2024 at the age of 82, she published her dissertation titled Homopolitiek in Nederland, 1966-2023: De symbolische kracht van wetgeving [Gay Politics in the Netherlands, 1966-2023: The Symbolic Power of Legislation].
She continues to be an influential voice in Dutch and European human rights discussions.
“Ik denk dat we eraan hebben bijgedragen dat de homobeweging veranderde van een bescheiden beweging met de pet in de hand die bang was voor repressie, naar een organisatie die klaar was voor maatschappelijke hervorming.”
Joke Swiebel vanochtend in Trouw (en op NPO Radio 1), vanmiddag vanaf 17:30 in de OBA Amsterdam: Mosse-lezing 2019a. Gratis entree + receptie. Zie: Mosse-lezing door Joke Swiebel
Vandaag precies vijftig jaar geleden in Het Vrije Volk (dé sociaaldemocratische krant van die dagen): aankondiging van de eerste homodemo in Nederland — én in Europa. “We hebben haast,” zei Joke Swiebel, voorzitter van de studentengroepen die het voortouw namen. Meer daarover én over het heden in de Mosse-lezing.
1969: Pink Revolution or Lost Battle?
The Free People (=Dutch social democratic daily newspaper)
248bis must go
Tuesday, 21 January 1969
We are also people with feelings
Therefore, please destroy Art. 248bis.
Pink Revolution
or Lost Battle?
OF THE CRIMINAL CODE
(1911-1971)
An adult who commits indecent acts with a minor of the same sex, and is aware or reasonably suspects of their minority, shall be punished with a prison sentence of up to four years.
1. Homosexuality does not exist > what do you mean by gay identity?
2. Get rid of that Permanent Friendship > individualization of legislation
3. Gay and women’s struggles – two sides of the same coin > reform of the “social structure”
Students must be leaders in the sexual revolution
from Seq, March 1969
“free choice between various equally valued forms of behavior and relationships”
Weakening the legal consequences of marriage
women’s movement >> individualization
Linking rights to ‘alternative relationships’
gay movement >> FORMS OF SOCIETY
“Regulate alternative relationship legally”
Lost Battle +/-
know your history
count your blessings
put your identity into perspective