Anti-gay cabinet

This float was organised by COC, the principal gay-rights group in the Netherlands. It carries a very political message, and many of our 'ministers' attended.

Granted the Netherlands is at the forefront of the gay emancipation movement, the current cabinet appears to be very anti-gay. This can be blamed on the majority of ministers from the Christian Democratic Party (CDA). The sorry state of the current Dutch cabinet’s attitude toward homosexuals:

“I voted against homosexual marriage.”
Jan-Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands
He said this during a visit to Indonesia, at the Islamic University of Jakarta, where a student questioned him on the ‘moral decay’ of the Netherlands. Instead of defending the Netherlands’ tolerance and acceptance of homosexuality, he showed his disdain for sexual difference and his weakness as a self-proclaimed ‘moral leader’.

“No time for holebi manifestations or organisations”
Clemence Ross–Van Dorp, State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport, in charge of homosexuals emancipation affairs within the cabinet. She never attended a gay pride, or gay-themed event, or appeared at any organisation which champions gay rights.

“No direct adoption (for) lesbian co-mother.”
Piet Hein Donner, Minister for Justice. This Christian Democrat minister does not accept that a woman can be a co-mother, because God had destined man to be the counterpart. This was despite the majority of Parliament was for the motion.


“Civil servants of civil affairs may refuse marriage of homosexual couples.”
Johan Remkes, Minister of Internal Affairs. This is despite the fact that the law does not discriminate against same sex or opposite marriage. But according to the minister, civil servants can refuse out of their conscience based on religious grounds.

“[I’d] rather throw money away than do something in education on homosexuality—the freedom of education takes priority.”
Maria van der Hoeven, Minister for Education. Freedom of education takes precedence, but not for homosexual students and teachers.

“Unicorn is not a good name for Urzgan mission.”
Henk Kamp, Minister of Defence. On the name debacle surrounding Dutch forces in Afghanistan.
“No blood donation for homosexuals.”
Hans Hoogervoorst, Minister of Health. Are homosexuals supposed to be a higher risk group in the transmission of STDs through blood transfusion? Research shows heterosexual men are the biggest risk group.

“Homosexuality not in Article 1 of the Constitution”
Alexander Pechtold, ex Minister for Government Reform. He argues that protection of homosexuals from discrimination in Article 1 (already covering religion, way of life, political affiliation, race, gender, and “any other grounds whatsoever”) is “not desired”. What’s more, he believes that adding freedom from sexual orientation discrimination would ‘devalue’ other already protected grounds of discrimination. This is despite the fact that “other grounds whatsoever” was a compromise not to mention homosexuality explicitly.


“Homosexuals can be sent back to Iran safely”
Rita Verdonk, Minister for Integration and Immigration. This despite the fact that Iran and other Islamic countries publicly execute homosexuals because they are homosexuals. She won a well-deserved place on Human Rights Watch’s Hall of Shame.

“No interference with internal affairs [of other countries].”
Ben Bot, Minister of Foreign Affairs. No condemnations of countries which ban gay prides, no congratulations to countries like Canada and Spain which have introduced homosexual marriages. And this from a minister who represents a country which is supposed to be the harbinger of homosexual emancipation!