Amsterdam against children’s participation in gay parade
The municipality of Amsterdam is opposing the participation of children in the Gay Pride Parade this summer.
Last week, gay organisation COC announced it would allow children from the age of 11 to participate in the boat parade held annually in the Amsterdam canals. This was major news in many countries, but not in the Netherlands.
Mayor Job Cohen aims to persuade the COC to withdraw the plans for the ‘under 16 boat’. He will not declare an explicit ban. He wishes to find “another solution” for the emancipation of underage homosexuals, as a municipality spokeswoman yesterday stated.
The boat for children aged 11 to 15 is to participate in the boat parade for the first time. It is an initiative by 14-year-old Danny Hoekzema. With the support of the COC, the boy placed an appeal on his website for other children to accompany him.
Source: NIS News, 1 February 2007
