|
» Territorial Unity.
Despite the Netherlands' acceptance of gay marriage, many of their overseas territories, like Aruba and Antilles, still snub same-sex nups, a division Dutch parliamentarian Ineke van Gent thinks needs to change. [Daily Herald] |
» United!
"Two sexual orientation and gender identity rights groups have been given consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. COC Netherlands and the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transexuals and Bisexuals of Spain (FELGTB) are national organisations representing LGBT communities in the Netherlands and Spain." [Pink News] |
|
The Dutch Language Union has invented a new word that translates to "birthname" to accommodate married gay men who feel awkward listing their "maiden" names. How do you say "fucking radical" in Dutch? |
|
|
» "Standing Firm."
"The Netherlands’ 165 staunchly Protestant schools are standing firm on sacking homosexual teachers who are in a relationship with another man or woman, the Volkskrant reports on Tuesday. The schools made their standpoint clear in a paper on homosexuality which was presented to education minister Ronald Plasterk on Monday. Plasterk said the law does allow education on the basis of religious convictions but said he was still in talks with schools about what to do if a gay teacher married." [Dutch News] |
|
The 19-year old remains in The Netherlands after delaying his deportation to Britain, which will likely send him back to Iran. Kazemi moved to England in 2004 for university and claims he intended to leave, but stayed after the Iranian government executed his boyfriend. The British government planned to kick Kazemi out, but the teen hopped off to The Netherlands, which has a moratorium on deporting endangered gays. Kazemi's case gets a bit complicated, however, when you consider Europe's Dublin Treaty. That measure stipulates that asylum cases must be tried in the nation where the subject applied, which would be England for Kazemi. He's hoping, however, that British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will take pity on him. In a letter sent yesterday, Kazemi again reiterates that he fears for his life and that he should be punished for his natural attractions. The British government won't comment on specific cases, but insists they "will not remove anyone who we believe is at risk on their return." |
|
The 36-year-old royal will go to the gathering of the Netherlands' four major cities - Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht - to discuss how best to solve the problem of exclusion of homosexuals in the nation. No, no - people learn to discriminate, so you have to unlearn them good. |
» UN Again Rebuffs Gay Advances
The United Nations voted this week to defer including Brazilian, Dutch and Spanish organizations in their Economic and Social Council. Said one Dutch activist: "This blatant structural discrimination against LGBT organizations shows the need for a continued battle." To be fair, however, the UN previously voted to include groups from Canada and Sweden, so maybe they just don't like those countries. [Pride Source] |
|
» Dutch Folk Prefer Gays To Muslims
A new survey out of The Netherlands shows that Dutch folk have no problems with a gay, woman or atheist president. They seem to draw the line at Muslims, however. "Three in four find a prime minister with a black skin acceptable. The score was also high for an atheist (87 percent) or a homosexual (78 percent). There appeared to be less tolerance for people of other religions, the survey showed. Only half of respondents would accept a Jewish prime minister, and only 27 percent would be happy with a Muslim one." [Xinhua] |
|
• Mike Huckabee's a manipulative bitch: Mike Huckabee is holding a press conference right now in which he was supposed to unveil a new negative ad against arch rival Mitt Romney. Way to take the high ground, Huck. • Today's Choire Sicha's last day at Gawker. Good luck on everything, Mr. S! The Metro Section will miss your peepers. • Ladies love man-on-man action, says Mark Simpson. |
|
Things Not Looking Good For 19-Year Old
As we mentioned last week, 19-year old Mehdi has been waiting for asylum in The Netherlands, which has a policy against deporting queers back to Iran. Unfortunately, immigration officials refused to grant Mehdi's wish because the decision would violate the Dublin Treaty, which prevents asylum seekers from applying in multiple EU nations. Mehdi had previously applied for asylum in England, which is where he's most likely headed this week. Mehdi's lawyers plan one final appeal. The 19-year old fears the Brits will send him back to Iran without giving him a fair shot at freedom. Sending him back may result in his execution, so, if you ask us, they have no choice but to welcome him into their national fold. |
|
|
|
Takes Semi-Hard Stances On Homophobes
A government survey showed homosexuality is illegal in 18 out of the 36 countries the Netherlands gives regular aid to, Development Minister Bert Koenders said in a statement, with punishment ranging from prison sentences to the death penalty. You know what would be even better? Sanctions. Take away people's money and they really start to listen. Okay, not always, but we're not sure "awkward discussions" will scare people straight. |
|
Press Picks Up On Amsterdam Attack
We've previously reported on two Canadian soldiers accused of anti-gay attacks in Amsterdam. Canada's National Post provides more details:
Rather than give them the boot, the Canadian military simply reassigned them to a base in The Netherlands. |
|
Two Twenty-Somethings May Be Jailed For Attacks
The public prosecution department has asked the courts to jail a 22-year-old Canadian soldier for eight months for beating up a homosexual man in Amsterdam this spring. A second soldier, also 22, faces a six-week sentence. The attack sent out alarm signals about increasing violence against gay people. We guess not all of Amsterdam's anti-gay attacks are instigated by Muslim immigrants, as some would like to believe. (PS: Are we the only ones who thinks eight and six month sentences are a bit lenient?) |
|
The kid-initiated initiative came around after this year's gay pride, when the Tiger Beat crowd joined the fun with a float of their own, reports NIS. Since then, COC and a group of go-getter guppies have been collaborating on the new networking site, Jung & Out. |