[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.

[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.

[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.

[13] He was a frequent visitor of the DOK gay disco[18] and was a member of the radical "Red Faggots" (Dutch: "Rooie Flikkers").

[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.