THE HAGUE - Participants in the city panel of the municipality of The Hague were presented with very remarkable statements this week. The periodic survey of the municipality, for which residents can register themselves, this time was about homosexuality. The question has gone down the wrong way in the Hague department of the gay interest organization COC. The municipality of The Hague now offers its apologies. "I find sex between two lesbian women disgusting," is one of the statements to which panel members had to answer. 'Bisexuals are not yet sure what their sexual preference is', was another statement. And: 'Bisexuals are incapable of having monogamous relationships'.
The COC in The Hague is very shocked, chairman Arnout van Kooij told Omroep West. 'The statements hurt our supporters very much,' he says. “It feels like we've been violated.
''Suggestive tone'
According to Van Kooij, the questions are 'painful' and 'difficult'. He is also bothered by the suggestive tone of the questions. He was previously unaware that The Hague was conducting this investigation. After questions from Omroep West about the survey, he contacted the municipality. "There was immediately a strong and penetrating conversation, lasting about an hour," says the excited chairman. The municipality has listened carefully to the COC leader's feelings. "Apologies followed and we accepted them," he says.
COC not involved
Remarkably enough, the municipality of The Hague did not involve the local branch of the COC in the investigation. 'We now want to remain involved in developments in this area', says Van Kooij. According to him, the municipality has also promised. The municipality of The Hague was unable to respond substantively on Thursday. A spokesperson does state that he wants to promote emancipation in the city with this research.
"No regrets about the gay survey, research is desperately needed," says Hague alderman Karsten Klein
THE HAGUE - The Municipality of The Hague does not regret the investigation into homosexuality. That says responsible alderman Karsten Klein to Omroep West. The COC's department in The Hague was disturbed by the 'suggestive' questions of the research and says that the municipality has apologized for this. Alderman Klein says he regrets the case, but does not apologize.
'I find sex between two lesbians disgusting' and 'Bisexuals are incapable of having monogamous relationships', are two of the statements that were discussed in the City Panel this week. That is a survey by the municipality, for which residents of The Hague can register themselves. The COC in The Hague was surprised to Omroep West about the question and called it 'suggestive'. Chairman Van Kooij called those questions 'painful' and 'difficult' on Thursday. "It feels like we've been violated," he said.
'Never intended'
'There has been a strong and penetrating conversation', said Van Kooij. According to him, an apology was subsequently offered, but alderman Karsten Klein does not speak of an apology. He says he regrets that some find the questions painful. 'Of course that was never the intention and we regret this.'Klein still supports the research, because he believes it is badly needed.'Unfortunately, the social acceptance of gays, lesbians, bisexuals is not going well yet. and transgender people. Research is needed to solve that.'Klein can imagine that some of the questions from the research can come across as provocative. 'But these are questions that come from the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP). And according to these researchers, it is sometimes necessary to ask the questions this way because then you get the honest and not socially desirable answers.
'Surprised about attitude COC
The alderman says he spoke to the COC's department in The Hague on Thursday. 'I had the impression that the way the questions were formulated was understood,' says Klein. 'I am therefore surprised at the attitude of the COC.'
'Acceptance is one of the spearheads of the emancipation policy', says Klein. In June the new emancipation action program was presented under the title 'New round, equal opportunities'.
You cannot reply to this post