The book (Re)claiming presents ways in which various queer and feminist communities and initiatives in the Netherlands have (re)claimed the triangle—along with other symbols, words and stories—and in doing so take up an empowering position in a hostile society. (Re)claiming can mean both a proud identification with, and protest against the stigmatization for which a symbol, word, gesture or story was designed.
Besides a collection of buttons, archival materials featured in this book include short statements and flyers by queer groups such as SUHO, Sjalhomo, Roze Front, Roze Driehoek, Roze Gebaar, Van Doofpot tot Mankepoot, Interpot/ILIS, Lesbisch Archief Amsterdam, Strange Fruit Vrouwen and Groep Zwarte Vrouwen Nijmegen, as well as a text by Karin Daan, the designer of the Homomonument in Amsterdam. With this selection, this book brings together queer, trans, crip, feminist, Jewish and Black perspectives on (re)claiming as an activist strategy.
Most of these materials were researched at IHLIA LGBTI Heritage in Amsterdam, with additions found at the International Institute of Social History and the International Archive for the Women’s Movement (IAV-Atria) in Amsterdam, and LAN Lesbisch Archief Nijmegen. The materials are framed by an introductory essay by Noah Littel as well as an intergenerational roundtable conversation. Translations into English and Dutch (the roundtable conversations were held as a multilingual space) are provided by Canan Marasligil and Shira Wolfe.
Source of all images: Collection of IHLIA LGBTI Heritage, at Public Library OBA Oosterdok, Amsterdam.
Magazine cover De Verkeerde K(r)ant. Flikkers vecht terug! [The Wrong Side/Paper. Fags fight back!] by Roze Driehoek, no. 7, Eindhoven, 1981.
Magazine articles “Zo, en hoe zit het nu met Nijmegen?" [So, what about the dykes…?] and “Potten en flikkers aller landen…” [Dykes and Fags of All Countries…] in Informatiebulletin ter gelegenheid van de internationale potten- en flikkerdag, edited by Liesbeth Jansen, Pieter Lamberts, published by Het Roze Front, Nijmegen, 1984.
Information flyer Zit Roze Gebaar nog in de kast!?! [Is Pink Sign Language still Closeted?] by Roze Gebaar, distributed during the Symposium January 26, 1996 at the COC Amsterdam.