Gay magazine Expreszo has called on young homosexuals to call in sick today and join a demonstration in The Hague. The protest is against a clause in legislation which allows religious schools to turn away gay pupils and teachers.

The clause was due to be debated in the Lower House on Monday. However, the debate has been postponed because Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst has called in sick herself.

Dutch state-funded schools may be run either by local authorities or by independent foundations, often grounded in a particular religious belief. Orthodox religious schools are not entitled to refuse teachers or pupils simply because they are homosexual. However, gays and lesbians who openly express their sexual orientation can be turned away if the school considers their behaviour to conflict with its religious principles. Religious schools can insist that their teachers condemn homosexuality.

Change
The Socialist Party as well as the Green Left and centre-left D66 parties would like to see the law changed so that religious and other independent schools are obliged to accept any pupil. Such a change would also have the backing of junior coalition partner, the Labour Party. However, the two religious parties in the coalition, the Christian Democrats and Christian Union, are opposed to any change in the law. They fear it would jeopardise the cherished Dutch constitutional right to freedom of education.

Although the parliamentary debate has been postponed, Expreszo is appealing for the demonstration in The Hague to go ahead as planned. However, the magazine’s editor has said he is not expecting a big turnout. He says that homosexuals and lesbians are afraid to join the protest as it would be an expression of their sexual orientation. And this would be grounds for teachers or pupils at religious schools to be dismissed or expelled.

(c) Radio Netherlands Worldwide