About Yvo
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About Yvo
About Yvo's background
Yvo Manuel Vas Dias is a transman, and Buddhist, with a Jewish-Portuguese background, born in Amsterdam. Over the years, Yvo has collaborated with LGBTQI+ art and culture organizations,
“In 2014, he founded TransAmsterdam, focusing on art and culture for the trans community. We organize creative workshops with the Trans Art School. Whether you’re writing, painting, or on stage, it helps to express yourself. Creativity equals feeling free; it doesn’t have to fit within a specific framework. In any case, you are more than your gender or being trans. He gives workshops, lectures, interviews, and advice on transgender, trans & art issues.
In 2014-2015, Yvo became the founder and chairman of TransAmsterdam, a transgender organization for art, culture, and lifestyle. The organization aims to offer transgender people and transgender artists/artists a platform/stage. TransAmsterdam organizes a “Trans and Friends café InClusion” every month. Yvo was the chairman of the “Amsterdam TransPride” from 2014 to 2018.
In 2015 – 2016 he was part of a beautiful photo book project called “All the People” by the photographer Bernd Ott and the writer Emily Basa Besa.
In 2016 Yvo was nominated for the “Amsterdam of the Year,” a prize that aims to promote Amsterdammers with a significant contribution and involvement in the city.
In 2017, Yvo had the privilege of collaborating with Amy K. Levin and being part of her book “Museums, Sexuality, and Gender Activism.” In 2018, Yvo was also part of another beautiful trans book, “Nieuwe Namen” Life stories of older trans people written by Eveline van de Putte.
As a token of appreciation for his commitment to fighting inequality and connecting Amsterdammers, the Amsterdam police and Roze in Blauw (LGBTQ+ police network) awarded him a certificate in 2017 for his work for the trans community in Amsterdam.
Dutch Queer Award
Art is connection
Express yourself!
Art is the connection. Connection with our own identity, with each other, and also with society. Art allows our transgender supporters to express themselves and show who they are. In addition, through art, we can meet and empower each other, the other. Ensuring a more inclusive and trans-friendly society.
About Yvo
About Yvo's background
In 2017, Yvo had the privilege of collaborating with Amy K. Levin and being part of her book “Museums, Sexuality, and Gender Activism.” In 2018, Yvo was also part of another beautiful trans book, “Nieuwe Namen” Life stories of older trans people written by Eveline van de Putte.
As a token of appreciation for his commitment to fighting inequality and connecting Amsterdammers, the Amsterdam police and Roze in Blauw (LGBTQ+ police network) awarded him a certificate in 2017 for his work for the trans community in Amsterdam.
On behalf of TransAmsterdam, he paid a working visit to San Francisco in 2017 for an LGBT exchange program with the municipality of Amsterdam.
In 2018 he was named Amsterdam Hero for his work for TransAmsterdam by the Netwerk Amsterdam Hero. In 2019, Yvo and his team from TransAmsterdam founded a “Trans Art School” that offers various artistic workshops for trans individuals. In 2020, Yvo had the honor of becoming an ambassador of the “Sahodari Foundation” to build a bridge between the Amsterdam and Indian trans community.
In 2023 he received the Dutch Queen Award for his work for the trans community and TransAmsterdam
About Yvo
Awards Won By Yvo
In 2020 Yvo had the honor to become the ambassador of the “Sahodari Foundation” to build a bridge between Amsterdam’s’ and India’s’ trans community and became a Champion of Pride365
In 2023, he was honored by the Dutch Queer Awards with an Award for his work for TransAmsterdam, Trans Art School, and the trans community.
About Yvo
The projects Yvo worked on
In 2018 Yvo was part of a wonderful book about Elderly Trans people Nieuwe Namen Levensverhalen van Transgender Ouderen with a chapter The Grandson of the Jewish Merchant/De Kleinzoon van de Joodse Koopman by Eveline van de Putte. In 2017-2018 Yvo was part of Museums, Sexuality, and Gender Activism by Amy K. Levin with chapter 22 Never A Small Project: Welcome Transgender Communities into the Museum. In 2016, he was nominated for the Amsterdam of the Year.
As a token of appreciation for his commitment to combating inequality and connecting Amsterdam citizens, the Amsterdam police and Roze in Blauw gave him a certificate in 2017 for his work for the trans community in Amsterdam. On behalf of TransAmsterdam, he paid a working visit to San Francisco for an LGBT exchange program with the municipality of Amsterdam.
In 2018, he was appointed Amsterdam Hero for his work for TransAmsterdam by the Network Amsterdam Hero. In 2019 Yvo set up with his team of TransAmsterdam a “Trans Art School” which offers various artistic workshops for trans individuals.
