Mpho Tutu van Furth to Lead Engaging Pride Talk at Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam
De Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam is set to host its second annual Pride Talk on Thursday, July 18, 2024, on the eve of Queer & Pride Amsterdam. This year's event will feature prominent South African human rights activist and priest Mpho Tutu van Furth as the keynote speaker. The talk provides an opportunity for an internationally recognized voice to offer a critical perspective on the queer community in the Netherlands and specifically in Amsterdam.
A Significant Dialogue on Spirituality and Sexuality in Amsterdam
The Pride Talk will delve into the complex intersection of religiosity, spirituality, and sexuality, a topic often polarizing and subject to taboo. Mpho Tutu van Furth will share insights from her own life journey and spiritual inspirations as a bisexual religious leader. Her address will explore how, in her view, an "infinite God" has sometimes been perceived as a "God of limitation," and how this has led to a "spiritually hungry" Rainbow community, stripped of their connection to faith.
She will be introduced by Marie Ricardo, strategic director of COC Netherlands, and Rabin S. Baldewsingh, the National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism. The discussion will touch on challenging issues such as corporal punishment, ostracism from communities, homelessness among young LGBTQIA+ individuals, and the controversial practice of conversion therapy, which is currently a subject of political debate in the Netherlands.
About the Esteemed Speaker: Mpho Tutu van Furth
Mpho Tutu van Furth, born in 1963, is an Anglican priest, author, and human rights activist from South Africa. She is the daughter of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nomalizo Leah Tutu. She has co-authored books with her father, including The Book of Forgiving and Made for Goodness, and also wrote Forgiveness and Reparation, the Healing Journey. Ordained in the Episcopal Church in 2003, her ability to serve as a priest in the Church of England and the Anglican Church of South Africa is restricted due to her marriage to a woman, Marceline van Furth.
What to Expect at the Pride Talk 2024
The Pride Talk is scheduled for Thursday, July 18, with doors opening at 7:30 pm and the talk commencing at 8 pm. The event is free to attend and will be conducted in English, making it accessible to a wide audience. Those interested in attending can reserve their spot via the Nieuwe Kerk website.
The discussion will also address Amsterdam's identity as a "Gay Capital," questioning its current standing and whether this title aligns with the diversity of today's multi-faceted LGBTQ+ community. It aims to foster reflection on how Amsterdam and the Netherlands engage with the international struggle against inequality, discrimination, and violence.
This annual event builds on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, which featured the legendary American activist David Mixner. His talk, titled My concept of sin is not to care, is available online. De Nieuwe Kerk is collaborating with COC Nederland and COC Amsterdam, key advocacy organizations for the LGBTQIA+ community in the Netherlands, to present this significant event.
This special evening at De Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam continues its tradition of hosting impactful cultural and social dialogues. For more information on cultural events and venues, explore Musemap (musemap.art) to browse museums or discover other cultural experiences across the city.
