Dutch Acceptance of LGBTI People Stalls
Public acceptance of LGBTI+ individuals in the Netherlands has halted its years-long rise, according to a new national monitor.
Public acceptance of LGBTI+ individuals in the Netherlands has halted its years-long rise, according to a new national monitor.
Driving the news: The biannual report published by research institutes Movisie, Panteia, and Ipsos I&O found that while most adults view queer individuals positively, social acceptance has plateaued and in several categories slightly decreased since 2024.
By the numbers:
- Positive views toward gay and lesbian people slipped from 86 percent in 2024 to 84 percent, with more respondents reporting neutral feelings.
- Favorable sentiment toward transgender people dropped from 66 percent to 63 percent.
- Opposition to two men kissing in public rose to 27 percent, up from 21 percent two years earlier.
- The share of adults who do not find intimacy between two men repulsive fell from 65 percent to 60 percent.
Zoom in: Positive attitudes held steady for asexual (74 percent), bisexual (67 percent), intersex (66 percent), and non-binary individuals (52 percent). However, respondents frequently characterized non-binary, bisexual, and transgender identities as temporary fads, and researchers noted widespread gaps in knowledge regarding asexual and intersex people.
The big picture: The study highlighted severe gaps in personal wellbeing across different queer groups. While gay and lesbian adults experience living conditions comparable to heterosexuals, intersex, transgender, and non-binary individuals report significantly higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, poverty, and discrimination.
What they recommend: The researchers advised the Dutch cabinet to expand sexual diversity education in schools, address digital harassment in media literacy lessons, and integrate specialized training into health and social care programs.
