A call for the formation of a Gay-Straight alliance encompassing all sections of Dutch society has been made during a demonstration in Amsterdam. It follows recent violent attacks against gay men in the capital.

Frank van Dalen chair of the ProGay foundation and Amsterdam city councillor for the centre-right VVD liberal party addressed the crowd. He said joint action by heterosexuals and homosexuals was needed to stop attacks on gays.

“Politicians, the police and the justice authorities are doing their very best to deal with violence and discrimination against gays. Now it’s up to society to condemn it,” he argued. He wants to see organisations, companies and schools make a concerted effort at every level to make discrimination and violence against gay people a thing of the past.

He suggests that schools and health-care institutions should educate people about homosexuality. He also thinks Amsterdam City Council ought to join Company Pride, a group of firms which have undertaken to condemn anti-gay attitudes in the workplace.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide