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Elderly Pink Living Society
By Queenie Scholtes, Radio Netherlands
April 27, 2005
Jan Lutje Schipholt and Jos Boël are trying to set up a so-called 'pink living society', to enable gay people to grow old together in a shared apartment building.
"It would involve a group of people who have their own lives behind their own front door with their own circle of acquaintances, but who have chosen to do several things together," explains Jan Lutje Schipholt. "The bare minimum is having coffee together once a week, but it can be extended towards regular meetings, like going to the cinema together or going for walks together."
Police station
Mr Lutje Schipholt and Mr Boël believe to have found the perfect spot for their future community home in the Hague. Currently in use as a police station, the L-shaped building could be divided up into 15 to 20 living quarters.
Originally built as a school in 1905, the building has wide corridors, broad staircases and spacious rooms. It still possesses some distinct art deco features, such as yellow and green tiles. In fact, the building is a protected monument, which means that these details are not to be tampered with during a renovation.
But Mr Boël does not mind, "It's a beautiful building with a lot of beautiful details. I'm not much of a changer. Let's keep it this way."
Isolation
Having a place where elderly homosexuals can live together would be quite unique in Europe. Mr Lutje Schipholt and Mr Boël feel it's necessary to create such an environment. "In gay circles, there are no children or grandchildren who will visit you," says Mr Lutje Schipholt.
"You are not invited to family festivities anymore. You stand alone. If you have never been able to fill in that gap with other acquaintances, then life becomes quite hard, especially when you get older."
An outsider
Finding the peace one needs at an older age is not as easily found among heterosexuals says Mr Lutje
Schipholt:
"It probably has to do with the fact that you have grown up in partial isolation and that during you whole life you have the feeling that you don't completely belong in whatever situation. Not in your work situation, in your private situation or in your family situation. You are a outsider. Most people will never say that to you in your face because that's not polite, but it's there."
He adds:
"Perhaps in future when society is completely integrated - but this may never happen - the problem will dissolve. But in the current situation, homosexuals are still outsiders, even if they have completely equal rights."
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