Report on the LGBT election debate in Pijnacker-Nootdorp

What does the Declaration of Dordrecht say? Who or what are the Pink Reigâhs? Politicians were asked these and other provocative questions at the LGBT election debate last night in Pijnacker-Nootdorp.

It must not have been easy for the ten politicians who debated 'pink' subjects with each other and the public on Wednesday evening in the Municipal Office in Pijnacker. Debate leader Wouter Neerings opens with a barrage of questions. What do the politicians know about gay lesbians, bisexuals and trans people? Do they know people from the target group? Do they know what the Pink Carpet is? What is the Lesbian Parenting Act? Why does the COC have the right to interfere with Uganda? The politicians display a lack of knowledge of LGBT subjects by failing to answer most questions. A positive exception is Geurt Visser of Gemeentebelangen: he answers two of the ten questions correctly.

Pink Promise
The debate then focuses on themes such as safety, education and the elderly. Of course the municipality must be safe, there must be information about sexual diversity in schools and the elderly in care homes must be able to be themselves. But how big is the problem really in Pijnacker-Nootdorp and what should the role of the municipality be in this? Bob van der Deijl (CDA): 'We never hear of discrimination against gays in the council. It's not happening here at all.' Two women from the audience say they don't walk hand in hand on the street to avoid problems. Mark Crombaghs (PvdD): 'The lid has to come off the well. We don't see it, and that's why we don't think it's an issue here.' Everyone agrees that discrimination should not and should not be tackled. But how? Suggestions come from the public: appoint a confidential counselor at schools and care homes, a combination officer at sports clubs. The conclusion is that the municipality must increase expertise on LGBT people in crucial places. 'Do we know which pink organizations are here?' asks a woman from the audience. She represents Pink Promiss, a foundation that aims to make LGBT people visible in society. 'We're going to ask that right away', responds Wouter. And indeed, none of the politicians have ever heard of Pink Promiss. 'We have written letters to the municipality,' says the woman. The responsible alderman, who is also in the room, indicates that those letters have not reached him. 'But we make an appointment for a cup of coffee immediately after the debate.' The councilors also report that they will give their tickets after the debate.

Safe in Pijnacker
The debate ends at half past nine with a tour of all politicians: is LGBT discrimination primarily a national issue or can something be done about it in Pijnacker-Nootdorp? The politicians don't have high expectations of what they can do themselves to make PN a safe pink haven. But they are willing to listen to experts from the COC, for example, and believe that intolerance must be combated.

The LGBT election debate in Pijnacker-Nootdorp took place on February 26, 2014. LGBT election debates will also take place in The Hague (February 27), Wassenaar (2 March), Delft (8 March), Westland (9 March) and Zoetermeer (13 March). ).

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