Netherlands: Utrecht council adopts motion against homophobia

The Utrecht city council has unanimously adopted a motion condemning harassment, bullying and homophobia. The motion urges the mayor and the executive to put measures into place against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Councillors pointed to a recent incident in which a gay man felt threatened in his home. Mayor Aleid Wolfsen told the council that in this case there was no link between the harassment and the victim’s sexual orientation. However, councillors said it was no longer a matter of isolated incidents.

They called on the mayor to find a solution and to draw up a protocol for dealing with complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Mayor Wolfsen told councillors that the threats and vandalism directed against a gay man in Utrecht, which prompted the victim to leave his home, were not related to the victim’s sexual orientation.

The Utrecht police have since apprehended the perpetrator, who has confessed to committing the acts. The mayor said the accused has a history of launching into tirades against all kinds of people in his neighbourhood. Mr Wolfsen said the insults and threats he made against his gay victim formed part of his standard repertoire.