Opposition parties have demanded an explanation from the defence ministry on why it would not allow military personnel to participate in the weekend’s Gay Pride parade in uniform, ANP news service reports.

Junior defence minister Jack de Vries told the media that he had issued the ban because he did not feel that the exuberant nature of the Gay Pride event was compatible with the dignity of military uniforms.
But the right-wing Liberal party (VVD) and the Liberal Democrats (D66) are furious. VVD MP Anouchka van Miltenburg told ANP that De Vries and defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop are undermining the importance of gay emancipation.