Welcome to the Amsterdam Student Association Gay!

🌱 Founding year | 2010-2011

On February 23, 2010, Fien de Vries, Merel van Kessel, Suzanne Roodenburg and Nora Neuteboom signed the statutes that form the basis of the Amsterdam student association A.S.V.Gay. This of course did not just happen by itself.

In the beginning

In 2009 Fien de Vries starts her degree at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. She soon finds out that there is not much to do for gay students in Amsterdam. She thinks it's time for something new; a place where she can meet like-minded people from her own generation – a student association! She discusses the idea with her friends Nora and Merel, and like the three lesbian musketeers, they decide to go for it.

The three women speak with all kinds of different organisations and associations, and more and more they get the feeling that they will succeed. Of course you don't just set up a student association in one day, all sorts of official affairs have to be taken care of, but for that they really need an old lesbian, uh, hand to help them out.

After spending a couple of months mostly drinking a lot of beer and fantasising about setting up their very own student association, Suzanne suddenly shows up. Suzanne had heard of their idea about setting up a student association aimed at LGBTQ+ students from other people. She's very interested and she seems to get along well with Fien, Merel and Nora right off the bat. Additionally, Suzanne turns out to have an infinite network of older lesbian women who are but too happy to help these youngsters achieve their goal.

Chair Fien: We went through so much. We went from four nervous girls who didn't even know each other very well, to partners and very close friends. From laughing and being creative to crying, arguing and resolving conflicts: all emotions have passed!

Official

Fien, Merel, Nora and Suzanne can start writing A.S.V.Gay's very first policy plan. On February 23, 2010, they arrive at the notary's office, bathed in sweat, with only a few minutes to spare. At the price of a single Hema cake, the deed is signed and A.S.V.Gay is a fact!

Later that year a borrel is organised at the COC which attracts around 80 people. Of course there is lots of chatter and beer, but there is also serious brainstorming about what A.S.V.Gay should be like. Which committees does the association need? How often should we have borrels? What kind of activities should there be? Everyone present believes in the dream of an LGBTQ+ student association and shows their support in various ways.

Member sign-ups officially start on 1 July 2010. Fien, Merel, Nora and Suzanne, now the founding board of A.S.V.Gay, still disagree about whether we got 22, 45 or 100 members at this first sign-up period. Whatever the case, engraved in our memories as an incredibly proud moment, is people being able to register as a member of the very first Amsterdam student association for LGBTQ+ students.

From left to right: Suzanne, Nora (top), Merel (bottom), Fien

The original statutes of A.S.V.Gay

The banana and rusk tradition during the Beer Olympics

Canal Parade 2012: A.S.V.GayAerobics

🍌 Second year | 2011-2012

The second association year of A.S.V.Gay begins with a major setback: our website is hacked and the web server is emptied. Although some backups were made, it still means that we have to start all over again.

Fortunately, a lot of good things happen soon after! A big step is taken towards professionalism - we move from a free email provider to our own email service: @asvgay.nl. In addition, thanks to the hard work of the founding board, we get our own boardroom! If you ever find yourself at CREA and wonder how that pink wall in room 2.14 came to be: the second board of A.S.V.Gay.

Ontrozing

In order to optimise the integration of new members into the association, the very first ontrozing weekend takes place in September of this year. During this very weekend our banana and rusk tradition is born.

In winter, A.S.V.Gay moves from its first official borrel location Prik to the Amstel Fifty Four. It all started with a single New Year's borrel, to get a feel of the bar first, but all members are so enthusiastic that the board has no other choice: we are moving to the Amstel!

All kinds of new activities are organised throughout the year: from a city trip to Cologne to a game of theater sport, a bunch of fantastic parties – Hard Candy, Rock Chic – a winter sports trip, and A.S.V.Gay meets Ichthus.

For the second year in a row, A.S.V.Gay gets to sail in the Canal Parade of Amsterdam Pride. However, while we still shared a boat with UvA Pride in the first year, this year the boat is all ours!

With nearly 175 members, it turns out to be a year full of growth and innovation, and above all there is the realisation that A.S.V.Gay is not going away anytime soon.

🧗‍♀️ Third year | 2012-2013

Coming soon!

Dies Gala 2013

Canal Parade 2014: athletes out of the closet

Flyer scientific conference

🎓 Fourth year | 2013-2014

In the first three years of its existence, the association proved to be an enormous success. The number of members grew faster every year. The fourth board therefore decides to focus on mutual bonding between members and to make the integration of older and new members run more smoothly. One of the ways in which this is attempted is the introduction of the Kweekweek. A longer introduction period for all new members.

In this association year 13|14, committees will have more autonomy for the first time. Instead of board members taking presence in committees, it was decided to switch to a system whereby there are committee chairmen who are accountable to the commissaris Intern.

Moreover, this was the year in which the A.S.V.Gay song was written and introduced. Thieu Driessen is the founder of this. The song would not yet be used on a large scale, which will only follow in the years to come.

After a year of having borrels in Café Bordó, the decision was made to change the location of the weekly borrel with a lot of deliberation. A.S.V.Gay returned to the Amstel54.

After a suggestion by honorary member Henny Bos (mrs. prof. dr.) that A.S.V.Gay should one day organise a scientific congress, this was actually done this year. The first scientific congress was a fact. The theme of the congress was homosexuality and gender non-conformity. Researchers and students could send in papers for this. In the end, a diverse range of research was chosen from the submissions. It varied from persecution of homosexuality in the Middle Ages to transgender care among young people. It was an enormous success.

At the end of the academic year, at the beginning of the summer holidays, the first trip ever took place to a Gay Pride abroad. Cologne was the destination. A successful trip with a relaxed atmosphere was the result.

5️⃣ Fifth year | 2014-2015

Coming soon!

Lustrum Committee - Lustrum I

True Colours 2016

⛑ Sixth year | 2015-2016

Coming soon!

🎥 Zevende jaar | 2016-2017

In het zevende bestaansjaar van A.S.V.Gay gingen de eerste gezelschappen van start. Olijf, Drama Queens en The Bridge trapten het inmiddels zeer succesvolle initiatief voor verticale ledenbinding af.

Op 6 januari vertrok A.S.V.Gay met 42 leden naar Antwerpen. Eenmaal aangekomen werden de leden ingedeeld in vijf groepen. Ieder groepje had het doel het mysterie op te lossen van de ontvoerde pilsprinsesjes. Door middel van het uitvoeren van opdrachten verspreid over het weekend, konden de groepen korte audioberichten met hints verdienen waarmee ze het mysterie konden oplossen. De onthulling van het mysterie vond plaats op het dak van het Museum aan de Stroom. Brak, moe, maar zeker voldaan vertrokken de A.S.V.Gay’ers weer terug naar ons geliefde Amsterdam.

A.S.V.Gay’s Got Talent, een avond waar alle leden zich van hun beste kant laten zien. Ook dit jaar werd het de jury gigantisch lastig gemaakt, met acts als een dragshow, een lip sync battle van de Activiteitencommissie, prachtig gezang, en natuurlijk een halve liter bier adten.

De eerste verre reis van A.S.V.Gay was een feit: van 21 tot 25 april gingen een groep van 25 A.S.V.Gay’ers met de bus naar Praag! De commissie had een druk programma voor de boeg, zo was er een fietstocht door de stad; was de escalatie weer een feit tijdens de kroegentocht; werd er brak uitgebroken uit een escape room; werd er lekker gegeten in het Hard Rock Cafe en was er vooral heel erg veel gezelligheid met z’n allen in een stad waar het bier gevaarlijk goedkoop was!

De Pridecommissie was al lang aan het voorbereiden voor de Canal Parade, en kwam met het geweldige thema “Thanks to your fight, we continue the Pride” wat heel mooi paste in het algemene thema “This is our Pride!”. Alle A.S.V.Gay’ers kregen een shirt in een van de kleuren van de regenboog, waardoor we een levende, dansende, drinkende, feestende regenboog vormden!

Canal Parade 2017: Thanks to your fight, we continue the Pride

De eerste vliegreis van A.S.V.Gay

✈️ Achtste jaar | 2017-2018

In het achtste bestaansjaar van A.S.V.Gay werd het voorstel om een eigen A.S.V.Gay-app te ontwikkelen aangenomen. Hoewel de app dit jaar nog niet in gebruik kon worden genomen, was dit wel het begin van modernisering van interne uitingen van de vereniging.

Voorzitter Andra en penningmeester Kade mochten namens de vereniging spreken tijdens de dodenherdenking op het Homomonument. Het was een plechtige ceremonie met als hoogtepunt de kranslegging door allerlei LHBTQ+-organisaties. Secretaris Isabella en een ander lid mochten namens A.S.V.Gay een krans leggen.

Voor de eerste keer in de geschiedenis van A.S.V.Gay gingen we met het vliegtuig op reis, en dat hebben we geweten! De reis was zó populair dat er extra tickets moesten worden bijgeboekt. De Reiscommissie had ons van tevoren grappend gewaarschuwd over het weer, maar eenmaal in Manchester aangekomen was het heerlijk zonnig. Overdag renden we gekleed als hippies van hot naar her tijdens levend monopoly, ‘s avonds maakten we de gaybars (en dat waren er nogal wat) onveilig. Heerlijk eten, goedkoop bier, een leuke stad — het is niet gek dat iedereen die mee was nog steeds met veel plezier aan dit topweekend terugdenkt!

Prideweek

A.S.V.Gay nam samen met ruim 12.000 mensen deel aan de jaarlijkse Pride Walk vanaf het Homomonument tot aan het Vondelpark, waar Pride Park plaatsvond! Onderweg kwamen de A.S.V.Gay-leden die meeliepen Ellie Lust tegen en van die ontmoeting moest natuurlijk even een plaatje worden geschoten. Verder mocht de vereniging tijdens de prideweek deelnemen aan een panel van Salesforce, een internationaal softwarebedrijf. Hier werd gesproken over seksualiteit en genderidentiteit op de werkvloer, in de sport en in het studentenleven. Al met al was het een leerzame middag!

Op de eerste zaterdag van augustus was het dan eindelijk zo ver: 100 A.S.V.Gay-leden en hun vrienden voeren, gehuld in een weelderige regenboogcape, onder bootnummer 4 over de Amsterdamse grachten terwijl honderdduizenden mensen hen toejuichten. Het was een spektakel van jewelste — een dag om nooit meer te vergeten!

💥 Negende jaar | 2018-2019

Het negende jaar van A.S.V.Gay begon met een ontzettend groot aantal nieuwe inschrijvingen. In november van dat jaar werd het eerste feest ooit in samenwerking met de EXIT georganiseerd. Het feest, INV!TED genaamd, werd georganiseerd met het doel om geld op te halen voor LHBTQ+-vluchtelingen. Uiteindelijk kon A.S.V.Gay rond de 500 euro doneren aan een project van de Regenboog Groep.

Gepaard met veel vernieuwingen op de website is de eerste versie van een officiële A.S.V.Gay-huisstijl ontstaan. Deze huisstijl is vastgelegd in het HR waardoor het een leidraad werd voor de interne en externe uitingen van de vereniging, ook in de opeenvolgende jaren.

De vereniging kreeg voor het eerst officiële merchandise: met de eerste heuse A.S.V.Gay-sokken zaten onze leden er in de winter warmpjes bij. Gedurende het jaar kwamen er nog opspeldbare pins en duurzame reisbekers bij.

Intern werd de stroomlijning van berichtgeving verduidelijkt. Een eigen mobiele app werd in het leven geroepen. Bovendien maakte het bestuur er beleid van om maandelijkse kalenders te publiceren, zodat het overzicht niet zoek raakte met al die borrels, vele activiteiten en katers gedurende het jaar heen. 

Maatschappelijk roerde A.S.V.Gay zich in dit academische jaar op diverse fronten. Zo bestierden onze leden de gehele bar tijdens de opening van de Roze Hallen, praatten we mee tijdens de Regenboog conferentie van de gemeente Amsterdam én waren we bij Work Place Pride aanwezig. Contacten werden aangeboord, verstevigd en zo nodig hernieuwd.

Bestuur IX met de cheque voor de Regenboog Groep

🔟 Tenth year | 2019-2020

We entered the tenth year of A.S.V.Gay, which meant it was time for the second Lustrum! The year kicked off with a Lustrum opening party at SoHo, where the first board was invited to give a speech. There was also a party in collaboration with the Trut organized for the first time during the induction period, with the theme: 80s!

During the professionalization of the association, the tenth board took several steps that year. For example, a "General Committee Handbook" was developed, an online membership calendar was set up in Google, and each active member was given a personal email address. Additionally, with sustainability in mind, a storage unit was commissioned, an inventory list was created and a sustainability week was organized. In addition, the use of pronouns on board and committee shirts was introduced, which was very successful. 

In February, it was finally time for the Lustrum! Ten days (but actually twelve) of activities were organized. From a dinner to fishing plastic out of the canals, from dancing on Tuesday to a centurion on Thursday, there was something for everyone! Topped off with the Lustrum Gala (Titanic), where we spent a few hours singing, laughing and crying, sailing across 't IJ. The ten days ended broke and over a piece of cake at CREA, to celebrate the actual anniversary of A.S.V.Gay. An incredible week of celebration and joy, not to be forgotten!

Meanwhile, corona was getting closer and closer. Just before the first lockdown started, the lustrum weekend was still organized in Dwingeloo. Also a weekend not to forget, especially because for a long time it would be the last weekend where we could party without worries. A week later everything closed down, which changed the year in an instant. After the entry of the corona pandemic, we switched to online activities with the association. We continued to see each other online every Wednesday night, enjoying hiccups over drinks. To assist members this difficult time, so-called "quarantine packages" could be ordered, which included a drink, snack, game and puzzle book. As the summer approached, things slowly began to pick up. Because the urge for social contact was so strong, there was even boot camp in the park. In the end, the summer turned out to be a special one after all, where everything even remotely possible was organized. A party 1.5-meter away, seated boating with Pride, canoeing, and lots of walking through the city. We were happy to see each other again!

Eleventh year | 2020-2021

Year eleven started with high hopes: by summer, the first lockdown measures had subsided, the first borrels and parties had been held again, and a large group of members just started the Kweekweek! Unfortunately, the numbers of patients with Covid-19 grew rapidly, forcing the country back into lockdown on October 13. This lockdown continued into March, including a curfew and other far-reaching restrictions.

Despite these restrictions, the association did not stand still! Everything had to change, but the same sociability remained. We still had borrels every week: first through Zoom, then through Gather. We still organized an (online) gala, an online Ontrozinf, online pub crawls. Highlights was the online beer tasting, where everyone got a beer package with a real A.S.V.Gay beer at home, and our election debate, with prominent speakers from almost every party!

Starting in March, more and more could be done. First there were twenty of us at terrace drinks, later on we had biggest activities again (remember Dancing with Janssen?), such as parties, theme drinks and the production of the very first A.S.V.Gay nude calendar! Year eleven was not an easy year, but it was definitely a special year. We are extremely proud that we were able to experience this together: despite unique situations, still the same sociability.

Twelfth year | 2021-2022

In the twelfth year of A.S.V.Gay, Covid-19 seemed to fade into the background, and all the normal association activities were all suddenly possible again making the year happily marked by many firsts. This included a fantastic open period with full drinks, the classic opening party in the SoHo, and a physical ontrozing! We were also able to go on another trip with a whole group of A.S.V.Gay'ers. This time to Paris, where we made Disneyland unsafe and were immersed in the French gay nightlife scene.

On the social front, the twelfth board paid much attention to social safety within the association. For example, a Social Safety Policy was written, and several workshops were organised during the year on topics such as consent, transgressive behavior, and assisted intervention.

This was also the year of the special cock, or 2-for-1 cocktail deals during the weekly drinks. Cocktails were shared with besties, hook-ups, situation ships, or just enjoyed by themselves. We also had the opportunity to have our own boat through the beautiful canals of Amsterdam during the annual Amsterdam Pride again. With the theme Love All Flavours Of Gender, Taste The Rainbow, we celebrated all gender diversity within A.S.V.Gay!