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To celebrate this year’s Amsterdam Pride, we invited individuals from our Asian LGBTQ community in the Netherlands to tell us their stories.
What does that mean to them to be proud? What is their experience of discovering and accepting their own identities? What do they have to say to those who still need courage and reason to be true to themselves?
We believe it is crucial that their voices can be heard, so that everyone out there knows they’re never alone, because we always stand by each other. And together we shout out to the world:
Be spicy, be you.
To celebrate this year’s Amsterdam Pride, we invited individuals from our Asian LGBTQ community in the Netherlands to tell us their stories.
What does that mean to them to be proud? What is their experience of discovering and accepting their own identities? What do they have to say to those who still need courage and reason to be true to themselves?
We believe it is crucial that their voices can be heard, so that everyone out there knows they’re never alone, because we always stand by each other. And together we shout out to the world:
Be spicy, be you.
When I came out to my colleagues at work, my manager joked that our next team building
could be connecting other teams in the company to find a boyfriend for me. The friendly and
casual atmosphere around topics such as sexuality truly touched me.
Embrace your vulnerability.
Spicy is not a taste but a signal of pain. However it is so damn addictive.
I came to the Netherlands partly because I wanted to be able to get married with the one I love.
But now, I no longer think it matters to me anymore, being able to marry someone of the same
gender, or not. I am brave enough to live my life anywhere, and be myself.
You are yourself and you are awesome.
For me be spicy be you means that you don’t care about how others see or judge you. You do whatever you want to do, trust and believe yourself.
No one in this world has the right to tell you what to do.
You are your own captain.
Only after I came out to my parents and friends, had I found how beautiful life could truly be,
with no more hiding or lying. So that I could stay passionate, honest and brave to love.
What is the meaning of a long life if there is no happiness in it?
We remain true about ourselves, accept ourselves as who we are. And that, is how we are going
to find our social identities.
Fear nothing, for there lies no sin in loving.
I feel like in general Asians are more reluctant or hesitant in expressing ourselves. Be it our
opinion, our belief, our identities or our tastes. “Be spicy, be you” means that we should live
our own lives and be true to ourselves. Just like a chili pepper, some are obsessed with it while
others are abhorred by it. But the chili pepper doesn’t give a fuck about it.
Never let your light be dimmed by anyone. Embrace and love yourself.
After taking a selective course of Sexuality and Media during my master’s study, I learned to
think about and understand gender, sexuality in very different ways. Meanwhile, I started to
explore and discover what I truly like and dislike, both in terms of sexuality as well as in daily
life, which became quite a personal but precious experience.
Now I feel more courageous, also more genuine. Being able to love myself was the true
beginning of my life.
Say YES to everything (except some certain NO’s).
I feel like in general Asians are more reluctant or hesitant in expressing ourselves. Be it our
opinion, our belief, our identities or our tastes. “Be spicy, be you” means that we should live
our own lives and be true to ourselves. Just like a chili pepper, some are obsessed with it while
others are abhorred by it. But the chili pepper doesn’t give a fuck about it.
Never let your light be dimmed by anyone. Embrace and love yourself.
My volunteering experience as a volunteer at Out&Abroad is amazing. I help to organize activities
and met so many adorable people there.
Belong in a group of the few, you might feel lonely at times. But remember, you are never
alone.