Civil servants who have religious objections to gay marriage can refuse to marry same sex couples, minister for emancipation Marja van Bijsterveldt told MPs on Wednesday.

This exception was worked into the legislation sanctioning same sex weddings when it came into effect 10 years ago and continues to be the case, Bijsterveldt said.
Vera Bergkamp, head of the gay rights lobby group COC, said the minister’s position showed ‘some people are more equal than others’.
According to COC research, 58 local councils employ a total 0f 102 registrars who refuse to marry same sex couples. Nearly all are orthodox Christians.
Last month, Amsterdam city council said it would reassign two registrars who refuse to carry out gay weddings to other functions.
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