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Huijsen died at home in Amsterdam after a short illness. His husband, Lank Bos, was by his side.
A Short Stint That Changed Everything
Huijsen first entered the Dutch parliament in 1972 as a member of the Christian Historical Union (CHU), but that spell lasted just six months. He came back in 1976 as an independent after breaking away from the party. A year later he stepped down and went back to teaching history, the work he clearly loved.
That career took him far. From 1986 to 1998, he served as principal of the Gerrit van der Veen College in Amsterdam-Zuid.
His decision to come out in 1976 grew out of a single uncomfortable moment. At his swearing-in ceremony, his partner, Lank Bos, was challenged after explaining that he was there as Huijsen's partner. Huijsen did not like how Bos was treated, and the episode became the turning point. From then on, he chose to speak openly about his sexuality.
A Lasting Mark Beyond Politics
Huijsen never really stopped campaigning. In 2007, he co-founded Het Blauwe Fonds, a foundation that backs projects supporting LGBTQ+ emancipation.
He also put his story on paper. His memoirs, Homo Politicus, came out in 2016. Earlier this year, an updated edition followed under the title Roze Draad: Strijd, succes en stilstand in vijftig jaar homo-emancipatie. In English, that means Pink Thread: Struggle, Success and Stagnation in 50 Years of Gay Emancipation.
