Acceptance of LGBTQ+ is declining again: 'People are more likely to say what they really think'

The acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in the Netherlands is under pressure. Only 43 percent of people in the LGBTQ+ community feel their acceptance is good. Five years ago, that figure was 62 percent.

The downward trend continues strongly, according to EenVandaag 's annual Pride survey among more than 22,000 people, including 2,400 LGBTI+ people.

It's striking that negative attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community are increasingly coming from within their own circles. Nearly half (47 percent) say family members, friends, or colleagues are more likely to make unkind or derogatory remarks than a few years ago.

"People seem to be holding back less," writes one of the study participants. "They're more likely to say what they really think, and that's not always pleasant."

Besides comments from those directly involved, there's also growing resistance on the streets, in politics, and especially online. Participants mention increasing hate on social media and the rise of conservative and religious voices, both in society and in politics.

According to the survey, many LGBTQ+ people feel unheard or unprotected . "Right-wing and sometimes Christian influencers and politicians are increasingly given the space to express themselves negatively," one participant noted. "That affects how people behave."

That a sense of acceptance is declining is no surprise. For years, confidence in how safe and welcome the LGBTQ+ community feels in the Netherlands has been declining. But the pace of this decline is alarming. Young people and people with bicultural backgrounds, in particular, report experiencing rejection or hostility more often.

Aha! This is why cold sometimes feels so good