Oguz Acer

Biography

Author: Dino Suhonić, with thanks to friends of Oguz Acer

Oguz Acer, a Turkish-Dutch queer activist, became one of the most beloved and visible voices within the bicultural LGBTQIA+ community in the Netherlands. With his openness, warmth, and ability to connect people, he played an important role in strengthening the position of queer individuals with a migration background. His work in increasing visibility, acceptance, and emancipation for bicultural LGBTQIA+ people was an inspiration to many people.

An energetic connector

Acer was active in a variety of initiatives and organizations. He was involved in Respect2Love, a network for bicultural LGBTQIA+ individuals, and volunteered at Wereldcafé, a meetingplace facilitated by the COC, likewise for LGBTQIA+ people with diverse cultural backgrounds. He also played an important role in arranging for a boat for LGBTQIA+ people with a Turkish background to take part in the canal parade during Amsterdam Pride in 2012—an initiative that became the subject of a documentary the following year.

He was active in both Maruf (2012–2013) and Haardvuuravonden (Fireside evenings; 2014–2015), two initiatives that created spaces for queer Muslims to meet, engage in dialogue, and build community. Through these and other activities, he contributed to the development of safe meeting spaces for queer people with a Turkish, Islamic, or other bicultural background in the Netherlands.

A visible role model

As one of the first openly gay Turkish-Dutch men to appear visibly in Dutch media, Acer broke taboos surrounding sexuality, culture, and identity. At the age of 18, he appeared in 2009 on a popular Dutch television program for young people that featured frank discussions about sex and drugs, making him one of the first public faces of a younger generation of Turkish-Dutch queer individuals.

Through his visibility, he gave a voice to people who often faced both homophobia and racism. His activism opened up conversations about multiple forms of discrimination, inclusion, self-acceptance, and the complex interplay between sexual, cultural, and religious identities.

Acer was also featured in the photo exhibition Visible Faces by photographer Çiğdem Yüksel featuring Turkish queer individuals who shared their stories and became visible in public discourse. The project contributed to a broader societal conversation about sexual and gender diversity within migrant communities and made personal stories accessible to a wider audience. In addition, Acer frequently spoke in classrooms, sharing his personal story and engaging with students in discussions about diversity, acceptance, and inclusion.

Beloved and tireless advocate

Oguz Acer passed away in 2018 at the age of 28. His death prompted many responses from friends, activists, and organizations, who remember him as an energetic connector, a source of positivity, and a tireless advocate for queer people of color.

His legacy lives on in the communities, friendships, and initiatives that he helped build and strengthen. Within the history of bicultural LGBTQIA+ emancipation in the Netherlands, he holds a special place as a pioneer, a role model, and a bridge-builder.