Gert Hekma | |
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Born | Gerhardus Hekma[3] 24 September 1951[3] |
Died | 19 April 2022 Amsterdam, Netherlands | (aged 70)
Nationality | Dutch |
Academic background | |
Education | MS Cultural anthropology (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)[1] PhD Historical anthropology (Utrecht University)[2] |
Thesis | Homoseksualiteit, een medische reputatie : de uitdoktering van de homoseksueel in negentiende-eeuws Nederland (1987) |
Academic work | |
Discipline | Anthropologist, sociologist |
Sub-discipline | Gay and lesbian studies |
Institutions | University of Amsterdam |
Gerhardus "Gert" Hekma (24 September 1951 – 19 April 2022)[3][4] was a Dutch anthropologist and sociologist, known for his research and publications, and public statements about (homo)sexuality.[5] He taught gay and lesbian studies at the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Amsterdam from 1984 to 2017.[6]
Hekma finished Gymnasium-β, and in 1978 obtained his master's degree in Cultural anthropology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.[1] From 1979 to 1981, he worked at Utrecht University.[1] He was one of the organizers of the June 1983 social-scientific congress "Among Women, Among Men" (Dutch: "Onder Vrouwen, Onder Mannen").[7] In 1987, Hekma received his PhD in Historical anthropology from Utrecht University.[2]
From 1984 (succeeding Mattias Duyves[8]) until 2017, Hekma was an assistant professor and teacher at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in the sociology and history of (homo)sexuality.[9][10] Hekma's research is part of an academic counterculture,[11] and some of his statements, in particular about pedophilia and about sadomasochism, have caused conflicts between him and some of his colleagues and the university board,[12][13] and resulted in threats directed at Hekma.[14]
Hekma has served as editor or editorial board member of many periodicals.[15] He has also co-organized several conferences,[6][16] and has studied the life and works of Jacob Israël de Haan,[16] Louis Couperus,[9] and Gerard Reve.[9] He has taught students at Queens College and at the City College of San Francisco.[15]
In 2017, three activities took place related to Hekma's retirement: a two-day symposium, "Perils and Pleasures: Confronting Erotic Diversions", in Amsterdam University Library; an exhibition, "Rooie Flikkers en Homostudies UvA", at IHLIA in the Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam; a Mosse Lecture by Hekma.[17] The latter was organized by the George Mosse Fund, that he co-founded in 2001.[6]
Hekma is the son of a notary[12][13] and grew up in Bedum, the Netherlands.[13] He was a frequent visitor of the DOK gay disco[18] and was a member of the radical "Red Faggots" (Dutch: "Rooie Flikkers").[8] Hekma was a book collector,[5][14][19] and had a fetish for satin.[19][20] He was a fan of Marquis de Sade:[12][19] not only is De Sade one of his favorite authors and a source of inspiration,[14] Hekma was also fascinated by De Sade's position on violence,[21] and has used De Sade to provide his students with another perspective on sexuality and violence.[21] Hekma advocated against masculinity, paternalism and traditional gender roles.[22]
External image | |
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Hekma (left) and Mattias Duyves in Portugal (1984), from Groene.nl. |
In 2007, he received death threats after supporting the idea of including a boat for adolescents at the Amsterdam Gay Pride.[23] In 2014, Hekma co-created a petition addressed to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, pleading with the Dutch Supreme Court to not ban pro-pedophilia association Vereniging MARTIJN.[24] His support of MARTIJN resulted in death threats and an attempted burglary.[5] Hekma has stated he was not a pedophile.[25] He and his significant other, sociologist Mattias Duyves (1953), were together for more than forty years.[14] They met in 1977 and married in 2007.[14] Both champion sexual and relational freedom.[14]
Hekma was interviewed for John Scagliotti's documentary film Before Homosexuals (2017).[26]
Hekma has published widely on the LGBT history in the Netherlands and Europe,[27] both as a sole author and as a contributing editor.[10][28] His publications include scientific works and popular documents.[8] A selection follows.