Dutch soldiers allowed to join gay parade in uniform

The Dutch defence ministry has given permission for soldiers to join the Canal Parade in uniform for the first time.

The soldiers will not have their own boat in Saturday's Canal Parade, the highlight of Amsterdam's Gay Pride celebrations, but will take place on the boats of the homosexual sections of unions like FNV or companies like IBM, Shell or Philips.

A defence ministry spokesperson said soldiers are allowed to take part "on condition that they wear suitable attire". She stressed that joining the parade is based on individual decisions and the defence ministry is not directly involved.

Last year the ministry forbade soldiers to join the parade in uniform, saying it would impair the dignity of the uniform.

Peter Kees Hamstra of the Stichting Homoseksualiteit en Krijgsmacht (Foundation homosexuality and the military) said he was pleased with the decision. "For soldiers too, it is better to be out of the closet than in the closet."