Local channel denies gay couple appearance

A local television channel in Dordrecht has caused outrage over denying a gay couple to appear on a programme. The men were cancelled at the last moment because several editorial staff members have a problem with homosexuality, Algemeen Dagblad reports. On Monday night, Ricardo Pieper (22) and his fiancé Darryl Naarden (20) were set to appear in the tv-programme Dordtse Koppen. Just before the programme started, the editors called the engaged couple and told them they only wanted man-woman pairs. Pieper vented his frustrations on his Facebook page, concluding that the rejection of the editors is "because of belief conviction!" "So because mister producer is heavily Christian, no homosexual couples are allowed on tv?" Naarden is also outraged. The weekly talk-show Dordtse Koppen is made by volunteers from Bonfire, a youth center in the Bonifatiuskerk church in Dordrecht, under supervision of professionals. RTV Dordrecht is responsible for airing the programme, but is not involved in the show's content. Rob Veenstra, editor of the programme, is troubled by all the commotion. According to him, it was not a determined that the men weren't allowed on the show, "we wanted to discuss it internally first." Director of RTV Dordrecht, Arjan Verwoerd, quickly announced that he wants to investigate the issue from top to bottom. He would find it "severely contemptible" if there was discrimination.