In the Netherlands we value our freedoms. We are lucky to have the ability to practice the religion we want, to express our opinions, and to love who we want regardless of gender. However, it is important that these rights are not used to excuse discriminatory behavior. 

Article 23 of the Dutch constitution deals with public and special education and offers “the freedom to provide education according to religious or other belief”. This provides schools with the right, while having to maintain a certain quality of education, to choose their own material. In other words, it means that the government cannot interfere with matters of religion or life philosophy. Schools can thus use books that for example say that God or Allah has created humankind, or that say that homosexuality is something that can be changed.

Last summer stories from young LGBTQ+ people came out regarding how they were mistreated by their school for not being straight. There were instances where students were forced to come out to their parents, and were told by staff that homosexuality is not accepted within the school and that relationships of that kind were not okay.

Other instances that made the news is that a significant amount of schools still disapproves of LGBTQ+ relationships and make parents sign statements agreeing to that viewpoint.

It is crucial to make sure that schools are safe spaces for all children and that their policies are not just drafted in a way that it bypasses explicit anti LGBTQ+ language. Schools should not be allowed to wield discriminatory and endangering powers under the name of religious freedom. Article 23 needs to be amended in order to secure the safety of all children, no matter their religion, race, nationality, or sexuality. 

Hence, this petition aims to put this issue back on the agenda and to push for a change of legislation so that freedom of sexual orientation is guaranteed at every school.