A year ago, competition swimmer Oz was considering a move to Amsterdam, when friends invited them to join an event they had not been to before: Love Swim. Curious to learn more, Oz and a friend arrived in the morning, hours before the event started. Oz explains: ‘Everyone there, all the volunteers - they were busy setting up the venue, and the sense of community was so clearly present. I was welcomed right away and could join the team on the spot. It was such a nice experience and this was clearly a space where I could be myself. The music was cheerful, and the event really helped me feel like there is a space for me here. After this event, I decided to move to Amsterdam.’
This year, Oz will be swimming at Love Swim again, and they would like to encourage everyone to come to the event, no matter their background, gender, or sexual orientation - straight people are welcome too - and including those who may not have had positive experiences swimming in the past: ‘If you have had bad experiences in the water, where perhaps you were being pushed into the water, or forced to swim while you did not want it, I would really like to invite you to give swimming a try with us. Let’s see if we can change the narrative together. If you have a swim suit, just come and jump in with us. Give it a chance!’
Oz’s early experiences in the swimming world have not always been positive. At a young age, they experienced exclusion during training and competitions. This became a driver for Oz to join a queer swim club as an adult, and to ensure that the safe space this club was providing to all would grow and be accessible to more people, which it did indeed. Now a trainer and member at Gay Swim Amsterdam, Oz is making an effort to really make sure the club is accessible and safe to all, and make a difference in the lives of the people who come and meet in these spaces.
Especially in these days where the far right is once again threatening to take away lgbtqia+ and refugees’ rights, building communities becomes all the more important. ‘We are stronger together,’ says Oz. ‘There is beauty in our differences, my weakness can be another person’s strength and vice versa, and can empathise with one another. We all have a heart, we can all think and love, and we can meet and bond. When our rights are under pressure, as they are today, we should all consider taking action, big or small. Get surrounded by people from other communities and listen to them - perhaps transgenders, or refugees. Help others who are fighting for their rights. There is a lot that you can do by volunteering. Do it together. From unity, we can be stronger and free.’