Dutch Gay News October 18th 1995

AMSTERDAM. In its annual report 1994-1995 the Amsterdam Gay and Lesbian 
Switchboard set up nearly 10 years ago reports a loss of nearly DFL 3000,- 
(US$ 2000,-). The volunteer-run organisation receives an annual grant from 
Amsterdam city council of some DFL 5600,- (US$ 3800), but most of the over 
30,000 Guilders the organisation had at its disposal last year came from 
sponsoring whereby organisations and private persons could "buy a day" for 
DFL 195,- (US$ 120,-). Nearly 60 organisation "bought a day", among these 
religious groups, general practicioners, law-offices, gay bars, dancings and 
an institute specialised in training beauticians. At the moment some 20 
volunteers (4 women and 16 men) devote part of their spare time to "man" 
the phone.
The GLS cooperates with groups in countries like Israel, the Baltic States, 
and Russia. The organisation provoked some discussion this spring when it 
decided to stop giving information on where to cruise in Amsterdam to 
"not give away the game to gaybashers".

LEIDEN. After having been held in Hilversum for two successive years this year 
the city of Leiden, known for its ancient University and its cheese will host 
the "Homo Expo". From the 3rd to the 5th of November over 20,000 people are 
expected to visit the gay lifestyle fair for which the Hilversum premises 
turned out to be too small. The fair will be opened by a choir consisting of 
Leiden's gay and lesbian town councilmembers. Changes from previous years 
include: more stands, the Leiden location at the "Groenoord Hallen" being about
twice as large as the Hilversum one, extra stages for the performing arts and 
a lesbian film theatre featuring among other films like: Go Fish, Thin Ice, 
Desert Hearts and Salmonberries. Also this year for the first time at the 
Homo Expo GISAH (Gay Integration Through Sports Actvities Holland) will 
organise a volleyball-tournament and demonstrations in several sports including
the martial arts will be given. The volleyball-tournament will be open for a
maximum of 15 men's and 5 women's volleyball teams and Health minister 
Mrs. Erica Terpstra, a former Olympic swimmer herself, will present the prize 
for the best team at the Ceremony Protoclaire. A number of well-known artists 
like drag queens Dolly Bellefleur, Nicky Nicole and gay Choir "Noot aan de Man"
will perform. Less-known artists and more daring performances can be seen at 
a sideshow. 
According to a spokesperson for the Expolaan organisation, organisers of the 
event, any act and organisation is welcome to join, provided their activities 
do not violate Dutch laws on morality. In last monday's edition of the
media-programme "de Verwarring" ("Confusion") on gay radiostation MVS however 
it was reported that a place at the fair was withdrawn after having been 
initially granted to gay lifestyle magazine "Squeeze", which is to appear later
this year, for, according to "Squeeze", "no appearant reason". The official 
reason of the withdrawal was said to be the nature of Squeeze's act 
(scarcely-clad hunks marching up and down the fair), but there are strong 
suspicions other participants feared the competition from a new gay paper and 
may have pressured the organisers of the event into denying "Squeeze" a place 
at the fair. The Homo-expo is a sign companies are catering more and more for 
the lesbian and gay taste and are trying to get their share of the "gay guilder". 
Holland's gay community is looking forward to what already may be termed one 
of the gay highlights of the year and if it's anything like last year, well 
worth a visit.