New education minister apologises for tweets about rainbow crossing

The new education minister Gouke Moes apologised to the House of Representatives for his earlier remarks about a rainbow zebra crossing: “You must be able to be who you are in the Netherlands.”

The new minister of OCW Gouke Moes (BBB) came under fire over his tweets from last year about a rainbow zebra crossing that had been daubed with swastikas. At the time he called it ‘a pity on both sides’. That provoked strong reactions from many people.

Moes was sworn in as caretaker minister on Friday morning. After questions from the press he apologised that day for his earlier remarks: “I should not have done that. Everyone should be able to be who they are”, Moes said.

Lisa Westerveld (GroenLinks-PvdA) wanted him to also answer for it in the House and requested a debate on Tuesday morning, ‘in part because the ministry of OCW is of course also responsible for tackling LGBTI discrimination’. But most MPs did not see the need, since Moes had already offered his apologies.

Moes was in the House anyway on Tuesday and repeated his apologies there: “In my current role I feel very responsible to be clear about where I stand. I support the cabinet’s policy on emancipation. I believe that in the Netherlands you must be able to be who you are and be able to love who you want.” He added that he ‘of course always wants to be in dialogue’ on the subject.

On Tuesday evening he also sent an apology letter to the House of Representatives. “I think that if you hurt people, intentionally or unintentionally, you should also say sorry”, it says. “As a teacher I have seen how homophobia really is a problem among young people. This cabinet is pursuing active policy on this and in my role as minister of OCW I am also actively committed to it.”

Lisa Westerveld says she would like to hear from the minister himself exactly what he meant by his apology: “Was that for his statements or for the outcry?” She also wants to know ‘what he will do (in deeds) for the safety and freedom of LGBTQIA+ people’. “That will also give him the opportunity to restore the trust of large groups of people.”