Ramon Roks, a 29-year-old advocate for LGBTIQ+ inclusion in Dutch churches, received Roosendaal’s municipal Rainbow Award. Roks, who now lives in Amsterdam and works as a spiritual caregiver in a Heemstede nursing home, said he saw the award as recognition from Roosendaal society and welcomed the municipality’s appreciation of his work.

The award followed an incident during a queer pilgrimage from Roosendaal to Oudenbosch that Roks organised the previous year. The group of about 40 participants was refused entry to the Mariagaard chapel in Roosendaal, but was later welcomed at the basilica in Oudenbosch for a prayer service. Roks remains active in Protestant and ecumenical churches, pink services and LGBTIQ+ advocacy, after ending his path toward the Roman Catholic priesthood because of his open commitment to queer acceptance.