'Celebration of Love' organized in Amsterdam in response to Nashville declaration

LGBTQ interest group COC is organizing a "Celebration of Love" in Amsterdam on Wednesday in response to the Dutch translation of the so-called Nashville declaration, which was signed by hundreds of Dutch pastors and other orthodox Christians. Mayor Femke Halsema will speak at the event, AT5 reports.

The Nashville declaration explicitly rejects homosexuality and transgender people, and suggests that sexual orientation and gender are things people can be "cured" of. It also stresses that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman.

According to the COC, love is something to be celebrated and "every human being deserves to feel loved and welcome in the church and beyond". The organization is therefore planning this celebration for LGBTQ people and the religious community. The celebration will be held at the Gay Monument on the Westermarkt from 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mayor Halsema and several speakers with an LGBTQ and religious background will speak at the event. The evening will be presented by Wielie Elhorst, who is both homosexual and a pastor, according to the broadcaster.

Hundreds of Dutch pastors and other Christians, including SGP leader Kees van der Staaij, signed the Dutch translation of the Nashville declaration. The Public Prosecutor is currently assessing the declaration to see if it is punishable.