Half of gay men and women in the Netherlands say they adjust their behaviour when they’re in public. They adapt to the heterosexual norm in order to avoid negative reactions such as disapproving looks, hostile remarks or violence.

“This means they won’t walk hand-in-hand or kiss in public,” according to researcher Marloe Boon of Amsterdam’s Free University. Boon was commissioned by the Netherlands Institute for Social Research to conduct in-depth interviews with 20 lesbians and homosexuals. Those interviewed said they did not believe homosexuality would ever be totally accepted. According to Boon, this is not necessarily seen as a problem by gays who accept that they are a minority but do want mutual respect.

Reacting to the findings, gay rights organisation COC said it was difficult for homosexuals to be visible even in a supposedly tolerant country. Spokesperson Rene van Soeren referred to an earlier study which showed that while 90 percent of Dutch people say they accept homosexuality, half of them find the sight of two men kissing disgusting. Only 10 percent of those surveyed thought a heterosexual kiss was disgusting.