The Walk of Pride celebrates those who have had a lasting impact on LGBTQIA+ emancipation. The monument commemorates their struggle and showcases the strength, courage and resilience of queer people worldwide. The Walk of Pride is a gift to the city on the occasion of World Pride 2026.

Jillis Bruggeman, a merchant from Waddinxveen, was the last person in the Netherlands to be convicted and sentenced to death for sodomy, or sexual acts with someone of the same sex. The execution took place in Schiedam.

For her “indecent acts” in getting together with other women to gently caress each other, Gesina Decker/Dekker was sentenced to six years in Amsterdam’s Spinhuis, a house of correction for women.

The beloved and revered Xica Manicongo is the earliest known recorded name of a transgender person from Brazil. Enslaved and brought to the country, she refused to renounce her origins and identity in the face of Western oppression. The Inquisition convicted Manicongo of sodomy and witchcraft.

“As ‘the Father of the LGBTQ Movement’ in Uganda, David Kato worked tirelessly for the rights and protection of sexual minorities in his country. Despite the continuing violence against the community and the great personal risks involved, which ultimately cost him his life.

FannyAnn Eddy was a courageous advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights in Sierra Leone and Africa. She denounced the violence and impunity towards the LGBTQIA+ community in her country on the international stage, but ultimately cost her her life.

Xulhaz Mannan was the founder of the only LGBTQ magazine in Bangladesh, where homosexuality is illegal. Until his violent death, Mannan passionately advocated for an inclusive acceptance of love in its many manifestations.

After publicly displaying a rainbow flag in Cairo, Egyptian Sarah Hegazi was arrested and tortured. Hegazi wrote about the necessity of united resistance against oppressive systems and norms.

Utrecht-born Saïd Zankoua combined his bicultural background with the gay scene. Despite violence and epileptic seizures, he remained resilient. Beloved by drag queens, admired for his warmth, strength, and support.

In 1912, Jacob Anton Schorer founded the first Dutch organization that confronted discrimination against homosexuals and promoted knowledge about gender, sexual and sex diversity.

German educator Emma Trosse was the first woman to write a scientific work on sexual diversity, in which she also addressed the existence of asexuality. She identified as asexual herself.

American scientist Alfred Kinsey was famous for his research on human sexuality. He showed that sexuality is not binary and fixed, but that there are gradations between “exclusively heterosexual” and “exclusively homosexual”.

Annemarie Grewel was an influential Amsterdam thinker, politician, and civic leader who championed the establishment of “gay and lesbian studies” at the University of Amsterdam. With her self-chosen death, she remained an activist until the end.

Psychologist Stelly Hoeben was actively involved in founding the Women’s House and the Lesbian Archive in Nijmegen. With her presence in both places, she was the driving force behind lesbian and women’s emancipation in Nijmegen.

South African activist and feminist Tania Leon was a pivotal figure and instrumental in founding several Dutch organizations dedicated to the equality and emancipation of women, particularly Black lesbian women.

Inge Intven fought to abolish the confidentiality protocol for intersex people. After this abolition came into effect in 2003, doctors could no longer conceal an intersex status from their patients.

As a writer, translator, and activist, Titia van der Tuuk, a feminist freethinker from Groningen, played a special and decisive role in promoting both a healthy lifestyle and especially equality and rights for women and homosexuals.

Under Mary Noordanus, the Dutch Society for Sexual Reform (NVSH) became an important driving force for the ‘gay rights movement’ in the 1960s. She advocated for abortion rights and the free sale of contraceptives.

A socially conscious Surinamese virtuoso of language, Edgar Caïro discovered in words—and later on canvas—the ultimate freedom of self-definition. As a student in 1968, Caïro stood among the pioneers at the first demonstration for equal rights in the Netherlands.

Max Lievendag co-founded the first Dutch organization for Black LGBT people, particularly those with a Surinamese background. He was committed to LGBT emancipation in both the Netherlands and Suriname.

The renowned and notorious Aaïcha Bergamin fought hard for medical and legal confirmation of her identity as a trans woman. As a sex worker and brothel owner in Amsterdam, she repeatedly and bravely stood her ground against police violence.

Transgender pioneer, writer, and artist Dirkje Kuik is an important historical figure for the city of Utrecht. In 1985, she secured the right for people in the Netherlands to change their legal gender and name.

Many Rotterdammers have fond memories of Janine Wegman, an extravagant street performer. Being trans and intersex, Janine had to fight hard to be legally recognized as a woman. She remained a lifelong advocate for transgender rights.

Transgender rights activist and sex worker Bessy Ferrera is remembered for her lifelong commitment and support for LGBTQ+ people with HIV, sex workers, and victims of transphobic and homophobic violence in Honduras. The tragic end to her life is overshadowed by the loving memories the community has of her.

New Zealand politician Georgina Beyer was the world’s first openly trans mayor and later also member of parliament. A proud Māori and transgender pioneer, she combined her cultural heritage with her fight for the visibility and equal rights of sex workers, queer, and transgender people. Her memory lives on in the transformation she brought about in society and in the rule of law in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Transgender pioneer Rik Henning gave up his privacy when he become the first Dutch transgender person to tell his story on television in 1971. Henning was the first trans man in the Netherlands to receive a valid gender registration.

Amsterdam native and renowned interior designer Benno Premsela was chairman of the COC in the 1960s. His experiences during World War II motivated him to engage in public discourse about sexual diversity. In a television interview in 1964, he was the first to openly represent the COC’s activism.

Albert Mol paved the way for the social acceptance of homosexuality through his visibility as the first openly gay television personality in the Netherlands. As an actor and comedian, Mol lived for the stage.

In the 1980s, Ignace van Swieten broke a major taboo as a referee in professional soccer by coming out as a gay man. Racism, discrimination, and violence had no place on the field for him.

Contrarian feminist, polemicist, writer, and criminologist, Andreas Burnier rejected gender norms and felt most comfortable in a man’s suit. Burnier’s literary work remains of lasting importance to lesbian, transgender, and gender-diverse people.

Audre Lorde was born into a Caribbean family in New York. From an early age, she wrote about everything that touched her personally: social injustice, her Black lesbian identity, motherhood, love, and her battle with cancer. Her personality and poetry have inspired Black women worldwide.

Radical activist and “provo” Betty Paërl was a taboo-breaking University of Amsterdam teacher, writer, dominatrix, and transgender rights activist. She fought for decolonization and sexual freedom and criticized the prevalent gender norms.

American bisexual human rights activist Brenda Howard, known as “the Mother of Pride”, successfully fought for bi visibility in LGBTQ movements. In addition to advocating for bi inclusion, she was deeply committed to the welfare of the polyamorous, BDSM and leather communities, among others, as well as to HIV/AIDS activism.

In 2016, Marielle Franco became both the first bisexual woman and the first Black woman to be elected to Rio de Janeiro’s city council. In that role, she advocated for laws against gender violence and social equality. Her murder unleashed protests in cities throughout Brazil.

In her memoirs, French author Herculine Barbin described her experiences as an intersex person. The story of her life, death, and legacy remain fundamental to the intersex movement in its fight against stigmatization.

A prominent intersex activist, Bo Laurent founded the world’s first non-medical intersex organization that addressed human rights violations in healthcare. She co-organized the first intersex human rights demonstration.

In the early 1960s, Alje Klamer, a Dutch Reformed radio pastor from Hilversum, took up the cause of Christian homosexuals. In doing so, he broke a major taboo. In addition to lending them an ear, he advocated for their support, care, and recognition.

Chinese-Indonesian Protestant theologian and pastor Stephen Suleeman proclaimed that God embraces gender and sexual diversity. He was a great advocate for LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights in Indonesia.

Muhsin Hendricks offered LGBTQIA+ Muslims worldwide a community and a safe place. As a religious leader in South Africa, Hendricks enjoyed international renown for his pioneering role in unifying faith and sexual and gender diversity.

Spiritual mentor, Muslim woman, and human rights activist Shinta Ratri fought for the right to exist and for religious freedom for transgender people. She founded the first boarding school in Indonesia for transgender Muslim women (waria), where they can practice their faith.

Marsha P. Johnson was a leading figure of the Stonewall uprising in 1969. She dedicated her life to resisting oppression. For homeless queer and trans youth, sex workers, and drag performers, she was—and still is—a mother figure.

LGBTQ and HIV activist Mikel Haman was regarded as a colorful bridge builder. He campaigned against conversion therapy and was one of the co-initiators of Pink Sunday during the annual Kwaku Summer Festival in Amsterdam.

German-born living-work-of-art phenomenon Fabiola (alias Peter van Linden) was a beloved figure in various movements within Amsterdam’s gay, squatter and art communities. A colorful activist, his appearance graced many demonstrations and manifestations in Amsterdam.

In 1981, Maureen Tardjopawiro brought together a group of women with a Surinamese background who loved women in Amsterdam. She lovingly helped this community bond by organizing a variety of activities.

Oguz Acer was an impassioned Amsterdam activist with a Turkish-Dutch background, who, with his strength and openness, managed to connect and inspire the queer community of color. He broke taboos and gave a voice and face to bicultural LGBTQ+ people. In doing so, he opened up the conversation about multiple discrimination.

In early 20th-century, the Amsterdam café ’t Mandje under Bet van Beeren, “the Queen of the Zeedijk”, grew into a sanctuary where everyone was welcome and could be themselves and express their love. Her eccentric and caring nature was symbolic of the rebellious and colorful character of Amsterdam.

Classical musician Frieda Belinfante and artist Willem Arondéus were part of the resistance group that planned and carried out a daring attack on the Amsterdam civil registry office during World War II. In doing so, they thwarted the Nazis’s efforts to track people down.

Unparalleled and fearless, Rotterdam writer, playwright, and theater teacher Anna Blaman was ahead of her time. Writing candidly about her own life and identity, she made a major contribution to Dutch literature and gay and lesbian emancipation in the Netherlands.

Miriam van der Have, a pioneer in the fight for intersex human rights and emancipation, both in the Netherlands and internationally, was among the first to appear openly as an intersex person on Dutch television (2003).

Curaçao-born artist Nelson Debrot raised awareness about gender and sexuality within the Antillean community in the Netherlands. Performing together with his “Freedom Birds” ensemble, he was an icon of the annual Rotterdam Summer Carnival.

Pioneer and World War II resistance fighter Niek Engelschman worked to unite and inform the community and to initiate a social dialogue about sexual diversity. In 1946, he founded the COC, the world’s oldest still-operating organization for the rainbow community.

Riek Stienstra never lost sight of her fellow human beings. She was the driving force behind an organization focusing on LGBTQ+ health in Amsterdam, with a buddy-care program for people with HIV/AIDS. Her priorities were inclusive care, social acceptance, and social support.

Under the guidance of the Dutch Society for Sexual Reform (NVSH), Thea Wickel helped establish the first meeting place for gender-diverse people in 1970. She spent the rest of her working life as a civic leader, host, supporter and advocate for the interests of gender-diverse people.

Artist Willem Arondéus and classical musician Frieda Belinfante were part of the resistance group that planned and carried out a daring attack on the Amsterdam civil registry office during World War II. In doing so, they thwarted the Nazis’s efforts to track people down.