Hellish evil, heavenly love: A long-term history of same-sex sexuality and religion in the Netherlands

Abstract

This chapter offers an overview of changes in Dutch perceptions of, and attitudes toward, same-sex sexuality and the part religion played in them. It discusses landmark events and publications from 1730-when "sodomy" became a public issue-until the present. It describes the evolution of discourse on same-sex sexuality, with special reference to the earliest publications on "homosexuality," alias "Uranism," which often referred to religion. In the twentieth century, Roman Catholic and Protestant opposition to homosexual emancipation gradually gave way to sympathy, and in the 1960s some pastors were vocal advocates of acceptance. In the early 1970s, homosexuality became a doctrinal issue, a religious identity marker. Polarization was exacerbated in the late 1970s, which saw the rise of both the gay and lesbian movement and religious fundamentalism. "Discursive associations" between religion-including Judaism and Islam-and homosexuality are brought to light partly by means of quantitative content analysis of newspapers.