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1982

Gay and lesbian studies

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Utrecht students and teachers make homosexuality visible

 

For sixteen years, from 1982 to 1998, Utrecht University had a thriving working group on gay and lesbian studies. At its peak, it employed some 25 staff members who published many research reports over the years. The initiative for the working group dates back to 1978 when students and staff took action out of dissatisfaction with the invisibility of homosexuality at the university.

 

Start in 1978

The first meeting of gay and lesbian students and staff took place in Amsterdam in February 1978. The 70 participants came from both Amsterdam universities. They wanted gays and lesbians at universities to 'stand up for their own rights and each other', and they felt that homosexuality should be given a full place as a topic for research and education. Because if attention was paid to it at all, such as in psychiatry or psychology, homosexuality was considered an abnormality or developmental disorder.

That same year, the Amsterdam initiative was followed by the Utrecht University and later by other universities. Amsterdam and Utrecht students founded the magazine Homologie in October 1978, which would last for 20 years, and a Documentatiecentrum Homostudies (Gay Studies Documentation Centre) was set up in Amsterdam, forerunner of what is now IHLIA, the LGBTQIA+ heritage organisation.

 

Interfaculty working group

IIn Utrecht it all started with a ‘faggot inn’ organized by sociology students, followed by ‘gay studies’ meetings at other departments. Not everyone was happy about that. In some courses, students were not allowed to put up posters and in others they were removed by strangers.

In contrast to Amsterdam, teachers in Utrecht were also involved in the initiatives, such as sexology lecturer Lex van Naerssen. While the faculties considered separate attention for gay and lesbian studies unnecessary, the students and teachers were supported by the University Council. In 1982, the university made money available to appoint Judith Schuyf as coordinator. With her appointment, an important role was reserved for lesbian women from the start.

That same year, the board of the Faculty of Social Sciences reluctantly agreed to set up an Interfaculty Working Group on Gay Studies. And money was forthcoming to develop a teaching and research programme. Three years later, 13 paid staff members were employed (7.5 full-time jobs) and by the end of the 1980s, there were 25.

Early on, the term 'gay studies' was also used for lesbian studies, which says something about the relationships at the time. Many lesbian women felt more comfortable with women's and later gender studies. Unlike in Amsterdam, where separate men's and women's groups emerged, Utrecht's gay studies remained mixed. Terms like 'queer' or 'lhbtqia+ studies' were hardly ever used in those days and became mainstream in the 21st century.

 

Research

While in Amsterdam, the main emphasis of research and teaching was on the historical, social and cultural construction of homosexuality, in Utrecht, in addition to historical research, the focus was much more on the current social position of gay men and lesbian women. Much applied research took place that could contribute to the policy of the government and other organisations. These also contributed to research funding.

 

Publications

In the sixteen years of its existence, the working group published many studies, including in its own publication series Homostudies Utrecht. In the first years, the focus was on discrimination and the Equal Treatment Act; later studies dealt with issues such as sexual identity development, lesbian relationships, lesbian motherhood, safe and unsafe sex among men, AIDS, the early history of the COC and lesbian and gay elderly people.

 

Dissertation Rob Tielman

From 1982 to 1992, Rob Tielman was the chairman of the interfaculty working group. 1982 was also the year that he obtained his doctorate in Utrecht on the much-discussed research Homosexuality in the Netherlands, study of an emancipation movement ((Homoseksualiteit in Nederland, studie van een emancipatiebeweging). His successor Theo Sandfort conducted doctoral research into how early sexual experiences affect later life (1988). Judith Schuyf (1994, on lesbian life in the Netherlands 1920-1970) and Pieter Koenders (1996, on combating immorality, in particular homosexuality, 1845-1955) are among the other working group members who obtained their PhDs on ‘gay studies’ research. In the 1990s, the working group lost its own status and became a ‘task group’ that ultimately failed to gain an organizational foothold. In the meantime, interest on the part of the students had also declined sharply. The working group was disbanded in 1998.

 

Maurice van Lieshout

Read the portrait of Judith Schuyf
Cartoon Utrechts Universiteitsblad (Utrecht University News magazine), November 24, 1978

Cartoon Utrechts Universiteitsblad (Utrecht University News magazine), November 24, 1978

First issue of Homologie, October 1978

First issue of Homologie, October 1978

Staff and students Interfaculty Working Group on Gay Studies in 1985

Staff and students Interfaculty Working Group on Gay Studies in 1985

Inaugural speech by guest professor Ilse Kokula in 1985

Inaugural speech by guest professor Ilse Kokula in 1985

Staff Homostudies Utrecht in Rotterdam

Staff Homostudies Utrecht in Rotterdam

Literature

 

Gert Hekma and Theo van der Meer, 'Gay and Lesbian Studies in the Netherlands', in: Henry L. Minton (ed), Gay and Lesbian Studies (New York etc. 1992) 125-136.

Homologie volumes 1-4 (1978-1981)

Judith Schuyf, ‘Ontwikkelingen binnen het onderzoeksprogramma van de Interfacultaire Werkgroep Homostudies in Utrecht’, in: Kongresboek van de vierde jaarmarkt voor lesbische en homostudies op vrijdag 12 april 1985 (Rotterdam 1985) 72-75.

Rob Tielman, Homoseksualiteit in Nederland. Studie van een emancipatiebeweging. (Meppel, 1982).

Rob Tielman, Humanisme als zelfbeschikking. Levensherinneringen van een homohumanist (Humanism as self-determination. Life memories of a gay humanist). (Breda 2016).

Utrechts Universiteitsblad (Utrecht University Journal) 24 November 1978, 26 October 1979, 17 June 1999.

 

Marianne Hoogma, Wet en Werkelijkheid. 1984

Publicatiereeks Homostudies 1

Marianne Hoogma, Wet en Werkelijkheid. Literatuuronderzoek naar de voorwaarden waaronder een Wet Gelijke Behandeling optimaal kan functioneren. 1984

Thijs Maasen. De pedagogische eros in het geding. 1988

Publicatiereeks Homostudies Utrecht 11

Thijs Maasen. De pedagogische eros in het geding. 1988

Petra Schedler, Judith Schuyf, Klaas Soesbeek (red.). Homoseksualiteit in beeld. Radio, televisie, schrijvende pers, reclame. 1989

Homoseksualiteit in beeld

Petra Schedler, Judith Schuyf, Klaas Soesbeek (red.). Homoseksualiteit in beeld. Radio, televisie, schrijvende pers, reclame. 1989

Publicatiereeks Homostudies Utrecht: Lex van Naerssen. Labyrint zonder muren. Analyse van het seksueel verlangen. 1989

Labyrint zonder muren

Lex van Naerssen. Labyrint zonder muren. Analyse van het seksueel verlangen. 1989

Publicatiereeks Homostudies Utrecht

 

  1. Marianne Hoogma, Wet en Werkelijkheid. Literatuuronderzoek naar de voorwaarden waaronder een Wet Gelijke Behandeling optimaal kan functioneren. (Law and Reality. Literature review on the conditions under which an Equal Treatment Act can function optimally.) 1984
  2. Cees Waaldijk, Rob Tielman. Grondrechtenafweging en de Wet Gelijke Behandeling.(Fundamental rights consideration and the Equal Treatment Act). Een model en een toepassing. (A model and an application.) 1984
  3. Marion Dobbeling, Pieter Koenders. Het topje van de ijsberg. Inventarisatie van tien jaar discriminatie op grond van homoseksualiteit en leefvorm. (The tip of the iceberg. Inventory of ten years of discrimination based on homosexuality and lifestyle.) 1984
  4. Edwin Bakker, Judith Schuyf (ed.). Homoseksualiteit en de media. Verslag van een studiedag georganiseerd door Homo RTV Urania en Homostudies Utrecht. (Homosexuality and the media. Report of a study day organised by Homo RTV Urania and Homostudies Utrecht). 1985
  5. Ans van Ginhoven, Marianne Hoogma. Gelijk krijgen is de kunst (Being right and getting what you want is the art).. An investigation to the functioning of equal treatment commissions in different countries. 1985
  6. Jan Aandewiel, Theo van Soerland, Peter van Weert. Politie en homoseksualiteit (Police and homosexuality). 1985
  7. Karlein Schreurs. Het is maar hoe je bekijkt. Een onderzoek naar identiteit en subcultuur bij lesbische vrouwen uit Groep 7152. (It's just how you look at it. An examination of identity and subculture among lesbian women from Group 7152). 1986
  8. Klaas Soesbeek. Homomannen buiten het Homowereldje (Gay Men Outside the Gay World). 1986
  9. Bert van Steenderen. Homo worden, Homo zijn. Een onderzoek naar de vormgeving van een homoseksuele identiteit bij jongens (Becoming Gay, Being Gay. An examination of shaping homosexual identity in boys). 1987
  10. Hans Warmerdam, Pieter Koenders. Cultuur en ontspanning. Het COC 1946-1966 (Culture and entertainment. The COC 1946-1966). 1988
  11. Thijs Maasen. De pedagogische eros in het geding. Gustav Wyneken en de pedagogische vriendschap in de Freie Schulgemeinde Wickersdorf tussen 1906-1931 (The pedagogical eros at stake. Gustav Wyneken and pedagogical friendship in the Freie Schulgemeinde Wickersdorf between 1906-1931) 1988
  12. Rob Tielman, Evert van der Veen (ed.). Second ILGA Pink Book. A Global View of Lesbian and Gay Liberation and Oppression. 1988
  13. Theo Sandfort. Het belang van de ervaring. Over seksuele contacten in de vroege jeugdjaren en seksueel gedrag en beleven op latere leeftijd (The importance of experience. On sexual contact in early childhood and sexual behaviour and experience in later life). 1988
  14. Jeanette Geerlings, Marion van der Meer. Lesbisch moederschap, praktijk en theorie (Lesbian motherhood, practice and theory). 1989
  15. Astrid Mattijssen, Martin Moerings (ed.). Wet gelijke behandeling in perspektief.(Equal Treatment Act in perspective). 1989
  16. Agnes van Wijnen, Annemieke van Brandenburg, Rob Tielman. Homo’s met een handicap bestaan niet (Gays with disabilities do not exist). 1990
  17. Michal Dallas. Onveilige seks bij homomannen (Unsafe sex among gay men). 1990
  18. Karlein Schreurs. Vrouwen in lesbische relaties. Verbondenheid, autonomie en seksualiteit (Women in lesbian relationships. Bonding, autonomy and sexuality). 1990
  19. Wouter Geurtsen, Annet Hofmeijer, Ton Zondervan. Homo of hetero, gezegend ben je! Remonstranten over huwelijk en andere relatievormen (Gay or straight, blessed are you! Remonstrants on marriage and other forms of relationships). 1991
  20. Adrianne Dercksen, Marty van Kerkhof, Astrid Mattijssen, Theo Sandfort, Evert van der Veen (ed.). Tolerantie onder NAP. 20 essays over homoseksualiteit voor Rob Tielman (Tolerance below water level. 20 essays on homosexuality for Rob Tielman). 1992
  21. Diana van Oort. (On)zichtbaar (seksueel) geweld tegen lesbische vrouwen en meisjes ((In)visible (sexual) violence against lesbian women and girls). 1993
  22. Niels Teunis, John de Wit, Theo Sandfort. Voor een half uurtje lol ga ik geen risico lopen. Homoseksuele mannen en veilig vrijen (For half an hour of fun, I'm not going to risk it. Homosexual men and safe sex). 1993
  23. C.J. Hoekzema, Miriam van Hooren, Theo Sandfort. Vrijen met je sokken aan. Homoseksuele mannen en condoomgebruik (Making love with your socks on. Homosexual men and condom use). 1993
  24. Klaas Soesbeek, Letty Bonfrere. Zouden ze bestaan?! Homoseksualiteit en ouder worden (Could they exist! Homosexuality and ageing). 1993
  25. Eline Stroes, Henny Bos, Theo Sandfort. Lesbische vrouwen en AIDS. Van solidariteit tot persoonlijke bezorgdheid. (Lesbian women and AIDS. From solidarity to personal concern). 1994
  26. Carla Jonker, Theo Sandfort, Desirée Schyns. Lesbisch zijn in Nederland (Being a lesbian in the Netherlands). Over vormgeving en bejegening in publieke situaties (On design and treatment in public situations). 1994
  27. Peter Dankmeijer. Vies niet, homo wel! Ervaringen van homo- en lesbische docenten. (Dirty not, gay is! Experiences of gay and lesbian teachers). 1994
  28. [Not published]
  29. Evert van der Veen, Adrianne Dercksen. Het steekt van tijd tot tijd de kop op. Homodiscriminatie in de jaren tachtig (It rears its head from time to time. Gay discrimination in the 1980s). 1994
  30. Theo Sandfort, Ernest de Vroome. Homoseksuele mannen en ‘gewone’ SOA (Homosexual men and 'common' STD). 1996
  31. Judith Schuyf. Oud Roze. De positie van lesbische en homoseksuele ouderen in Nederland (Old Pink. The position of lesbian and gay older people in the Netherlands). 1996
  32. Vera Adriaanse et al. Homo/lesbo worden. Aanbod van De Kringen en achtergronden van deelnemers (Becoming gay/lesbian. Offerings from The Circles and backgrounds of participants). Without year: 1996

Books Homostudies Utrecht published by Uitgeverij Veen, Utrecht/Antwerp:

  1. Petra Schedler, Judith Schuyf, Klaas Soesbeek (ed.). Homoseksualiteit in beeld. Radio, televisie, schrijvende pers, reclame (Homosexuality in the media. Radio, television, written press, advertising). 1989
  2. Lex van Naerssen. Labyrint zonder muren. Analyse van het seksueel verlangen (Labyrinth without walls. Analysis of sexual desire). 1989
  3. Marty van Kerkhof, Theo Sandfort, Rob Geensen. Als je het nou van hard werken kreeg! Tien jaar aids en homocultuur (If only you got it from hard work! Ten years of AIDS and gay culture). 1991

Brochurereeks on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the University of Utrecht:

  1. Jan Bour, Ria Gresnigt, Rob Tielman. Homosexuality and education. 1986
  2. Joop Keegel, Rob Tielman. Homosexual parenting. 1986
  3. Jaap Gerlof, Rob Tielman. Do gay people have parents? 1986

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