Richard Keldoulis & Elard Diekman met in 1991. It was love at first sight. Richard emigrated from Sydney, Australia to be in Holland with Elard. In 1998 they started Pink Point, the LGBTQI information kiosk next to the Homomonument.

Richard: We also organised the Pink West Festivals at the Homomonument from 1996 till 2007, huge outdoor parties on Queen’s day, 5th May and Gay Pride, as part of our work with the GALA Foundation.

We’re still part of the Drag Queen Olympics which is held during Pride at the monument, with events such as the Handbag Throw, Stiletto Sprint & Bitch Volleyball. It’s important to hold events in public spaces because that makes LGBTI people visible. If you’re invisible, you don’t exist.

Elard: One of my most beautiful memories is the work of the American artist, Fred Stern who wanted to make a real rainbow at the Homomonument. You need a lot of sun and water for that. Miracle of miracles, he managed to do it. On the 5th May 2000 at 5pm we had a Fire Department boat in the canal which shot a 20m high water canon into the air, the sun was shining brightly and a real rainbow hung there above the water. It was amazing!