Peter van Maaren was born in Groningen. 

Homosexuality is not only about sex, it is about identity. That you are completely homosexual. The Night of the Dawn, benefit party for the Homomonument in 1986 was the start for me as a teacher to be open about my homosexuality.

You got questions anyway. ‘Sir, are you married, do you have children?’ And then I said: ‘No, I am gay.’ The more relaxed I was about it, the easier they reacted.

The monument is about the right of freedom, to be who you are. Independent of the culture or religion you belong to. It is a place for us to come together. And get into discussion with others. Because dialogue is the key to our emancipation.

At school I encountered aggression. Because of their Islamic faith, the director didn’t want the pupils to know that I am gay. The pupils were standing outside the classroom and started spitting the floor when I came walking along. Someone said: ‘Are you ibne?’ That is the Turkish word for gay. By being open I could take away the aggression.

The thing with youth is, that if you dare to be open about being gay they can ask you anything about (homo)sexuality. I spoke freely with them and my honesty has changed their feelings from negative to positive.