Residents protest Olderbroek's decision to scrap "un-Christian" LGBTQIA+ policy
About 100 people demonstrated at the town hall in Olderbroek on Thursday against the new coalition’s decision to scrap the local LGBTQIA+ policy. The coalition agreement between the Christian parties CVO, SGP, and ABO states that the “un-Christian” rainbow flag will no longer be hoisted on International Coming Out Day and that other LGBTQIA+ policies will be withdrawn, NOS reports.
The demonstration took place while the new aldermen were being installed in the Gelderland municipality. There were also a few dozen people holding a counter-demonstration.
Kjeld Mooi organized the demonstration. He told NOS that he was shocked by the coalition agreement. He is not a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, but wants to stand up for their interest. “A lot of people here are struggling with the LGBTQ+ narrative,” Mooi said. “There are many people who feel unsafe; it is important that the municipality stands up for them.”
Tom de Nooijer, the lead candidate for the CVO, told NOS that if people feel unsafe, you address it by investing in the police. “That really makes a difference, not these polarizing symbols.”
Before the demonstration, faith healer Jelthe Kloens urged his tens of thousands of followers on Instagram to offer a counter-voice at the demonstration. He wanted to engage in dialogue “in all calm, love, and peace,” he wrote. “We are not coming to protest or seek confrontation.
A NOS reporter at the scene saw no sign of Kloens or his supporters. But there were around 70 people from right-wing groups who voiced their opposition to the rainbow demonstration. There were also over 100 farmers at the town hall in Oldebroek. They were there for a different protest, against the wolf.
Not every Dutch municipality pursues an active LGBTQIA+ policy, but Olderbroek is the first to actively roll back existing policies for the community.
The current policy was implemented in 2021. At the time, Mayor Tanja Haseloop-Amsing held discussions with locals and used that to create a plan to improve the safety, resilience, and social acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people in Olderbroek. The policy included points like opening the topic for discussions at schools and sports clubs, and raising the rainbow flag at the town hall on Coming Out Day.
Haseloop-Amsing is still the mayor of Olderbroek and will now work with the new aldermen. She told NOS that this is also part of democracy and that there are sometimes plans that are not always “pleasing” to everyone.
