Rising Homophobia Highlights Cultural Institutions as Catalysts for Change

As reports of homophobic incidents rise in Groningen, there has been a growing effort to create inclusive spaces to counteract this hostility. The recent Museum Night on September 21st, which featured the introduction of a Rainbow Route, was a testament to how cultural institutions can highlight queer voices. 

“There has been a spike in queer phobia in Groningen that I haven’t noticed before,” says Lukas, a bisexual man who has lived in Groningen for over seven years. He was particularly troubled by the recent vandalism of rainbow benches and the attack on queer individuals at a local club.

The Rainbow Route was a unique walking tour through the city center, linking all seven museums involved in Museum Night. These museums provided inclusive and welcoming spaces where visitors could engage with themes of gender, identity, and equality.

Cultural Institutions Driving Positive Change

Cultural spaces like Noorderlicht, one of the seven museums involved in the event, have played a key role in promoting inclusivity. Ike, a 37-year-old production leader at Noorderlicht, emphasized the importance of giving queer individuals a voice. “The majority is louder and often overshadows people in less fortunate positions,” he said. “It’s important to lift them up, to help them express themselves, and show that we as a society care about them and want to include them.”

Noorderlicht’s exhibition was in collaboration with students from Noorderpoort, a technical training institute. The project explored the intersection of gender and artificial intelligence, focusing on how AI perceives people of different genders and backgrounds. It was accompanied by a pride-themed photo exhibition. Ike mentioned that it was well-received by the public, reinforcing his belief that cultural institutions have a unique role to play in shaping societal values.  

A Safe Space for Learning and Belonging

The sense of community created by Museum Night was also palpable to Silke, a 25-year-old intern at Noorderlicht responsible for communication and social media. Silke believes that museums offer a special environment for people to explore new ideas in an open and safe space. “There’s still so much hate, and people cannot fully be themselves,” Silke said. “Society tries to put people into these boxes instead of letting them be who they are.”

For her, the Museum Night experience was more than just an evening of art and culture—it was an opportunity for people to connect and find solidarity in shared experiences. She described the atmosphere as welcoming, where visitors could feel a sense of belonging and be their authentic selves.

“Cultural institutions are at the forefront of guiding our society,” says Ike. “Because of this, they are in an ideal situation to give a voice to those who are marginalized and to share stories from different perspectives.”

Through exhibitions like those showcased in the Rainbow Route, museums like Noorderlicht challenge preconceived notions and inspire dialogue about identity and equality. By giving queer voices a platform, these cultural institutions help counteract the rise of hate and promote a more inclusive society, one exhibit at a time.