{"id":181467,"date":"2025-09-10T13:30:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T11:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=181467"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:55","slug":"nieuwe-onderwijsminister-zegt-sorry-voor-tweets-over-regenboogpad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/09\/10\/nieuwe-onderwijsminister-zegt-sorry-voor-tweets-over-regenboogpad\/","title":{"rendered":"New education minister apologises for tweets about rainbow crossing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gouke Moes is the new minister of Education, Culture and Science.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvincie Groningen<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

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The new minister of OCW Gouke Moes (BBB) came under fire\u00a0<\/span>over his tweets<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>from last year about a rainbow zebra crossing that had been daubed with swastikas. At the time he called it \u2018a pity on both sides\u2019. That provoked strong reactions from many people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Moes was sworn in as caretaker minister on Friday morning. After questions from the press he\u00a0<\/span>apologised<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>that day for his earlier remarks: \u201cI should not have done that. Everyone should be able to be who they are\u201d, Moes said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Extra debate<\/h2>
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Lisa Westerveld (GroenLinks-PvdA) wanted him to also answer for it in the House and requested a debate on Tuesday morning, \u2018in part because the ministry of OCW is of course also responsible for tackling LGBTI discrimination\u2019. But most MPs did not see the need, since Moes had already offered his apologies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Moes was in the House anyway on Tuesday and repeated his apologies there: \u201cIn my current role I feel very responsible to be clear about where I stand. I support the cabinet\u2019s 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.\u201d He added that he \u2018of course always wants to be in dialogue\u2019 on the subject.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Restoring trust<\/h2>
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On Tuesday evening he also sent an\u00a0<\/span>apology letter<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to the House of Representatives. \u201cI think that if you hurt people, intentionally or unintentionally, you should also say sorry\u201d, it says. \u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Lisa Westerveld says she would like to hear from the minister himself exactly what he meant by his apology: \u201cWas that for his statements or for the outcry?\u201d She also wants to know \u2018what he will do (in deeds) for the safety and freedom of LGBTQIA+ people\u2019. \u201cThat will also give him the opportunity to restore the trust of large groups of people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t

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Lees meer<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t