Friesland is the only province in the Netherlands not to fly the rainbow flag
Translated by Thomas Ansell
The FNP (Frisian National Party) intends to vote at April’s provincial executive meeting for Friesland to become a ‘rainbow province’. The political faction is basing this upon its call for ‘solidarity’ in its manifesto; which is a call for everyone in the province to have the space to be themselves. The FNP says that it stands for respect for everyone that lives in the province, so that no-one is left to the side.
A ‘rainbow province’ is one that takes into account all of the needs and wishes of people with non-heterosexual sexualities; for example in information campaigns and research projects. Friesland is still the only province in the Netherlands not to be a rainbow province. The first one in the Netherlands was Drenthe.
In the administrative agreement behind the scheme, each participating province is given 800,000 euros to put towards projects that go against discrimination. The FNP is fully supportive of the province meeting various organisations over the weekend to see how this can best be realised.
In 2017, the FNP was prevented from supporting Friesland becoming a rainbow province due to its association with the Christian Democratic Alliance, who are (unsurprisingly), against the idea of Friesland touting its openness.
Up until now there was no majority at provincial level to become a rainbow province, with various parties saying that any disparities in treatment on the basis of sexuality is legislated against in some of the more fundamental Dutch laws. The Frisian PvdA (Labour) also took this position until the run-up to last years election, where they swiveled position. The party 50Plus is also pro-rainbow.
Image: the rainbow flag is hoisted outside the Dutch ministry for foreign affairs in 2017. Image via Flickr, license here
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