Gay Pride Amsterdam August 3

Advocates of gay rights of Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese and Antillean communities will sail along on the boat of the government during Gay Pride. Minister Jet Bussemaker of Emancipation wants to show that it is also okay for minorities to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

This was reported by the Ministry of Emancipation on Monday. According to research by the Social and Cultural Planning Bureau (SCP), homosexuality is still a very sensitive issue in some minority communities. For instance, less than a third of the Turkish and Moroccan Dutch finds it okay that homosexuals can marry. Three quarters of them would find it a problem if their child would be gay or lesbian.

The parade of boats in the canals of Amsterdam is on Saturday August 3. It is the 18th edition of Gay Pride in Amsterdam.

Ministry of Defense

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Minister of Defense, will also join the boat parade of the Amsterdam Gay Pride on August 3. She is sailing on the boat of the ministry of Defense.

Her participation is historical: it is the first time that a defense minister will join. Her Department wants to empower that everyone, including lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people, should be able to be themselves at the Defense work floor.

The participation of Hennis-Plasschaert to the event coincides with a number of special commemorations for defense this year. The Netherlands is organized navy in 525 years, 200 years the Navy carries the designation 'Royal' and military exists 100 years.

The Foundation Gay Sexuality and the Armed Forces, who has been a quarter century commitment to meet different orientation within the Defence of the taboo atmosphere celebrates its 25th anniversary.