Religious Pride gives LGBTQ+ Catholics a visible place at WorldPride

Faith and queer identity do not have to be at odds, and Amsterdam's Pride programme made a point of saying so this summer. Religious Pride is a dedicated part of the official Amsterdam Pride programme. It brings together LGBTQ+ people of different religions and denominations for worship, dialogue, reflection and community building. During WorldPride Amsterdam 2026, held from 25 July to 8 August, the programme gave religious LGBTQ+ people a particularly visible space. Among the Catholic participants was the Werkverband van Katholieke Homo-Pastores (WKHP), a Dutch network of LGBTQ+ Catholic pastors and theologians. Ramon Roks, a pastoral worker and WKHP board member, represented the group on the Religious Pride committee and the Religious WorldPride organisation, and spoke at the Pride Church Service. He told New Ways Ministry's Bondings 2.0 that the service, with worship leaders from different denominations standing side by side in a full church, was one of the most meaningful moments. The committee's stand at the Pride Village was another, with visitors stopping to talk about faith and belonging. Roks was candid about the wider picture. He said the institutional Catholic Church in the Netherlands has become increasingly conservative, that no Dutch diocese runs an official LGBTQ+ ministry, and that most bishops decline to speak with WKHP. The group, which has existed since 1980, keeps raising the subject from outside the formal church. "We do not want to be chased away," he said, adding that it remains visible and seeks allies among ecumenical networks. Belonging is built in many places, and nightlife is one of them. At Vibra, we want the Amsterdam LGBTQ+ community to find its people, whether that is a first night out or a regular spot. Book tickets to LGBTQ+ nights in the app, and earn Pulse points every time you show up, so loyalty to the venues and events that welcome you is recognised. Source: New Ways Ministry (Bondings 2.0), 26 August 2026