There, Bontenbal had mainly stood up for reformed schools on Monday evening, which state that homosexuals are not allowed to practice their orientation. The CDA leader defended freedom of education, instead of the boy shown on Nieuwsuur: he talked about the lack of gay acceptance at his school. This resulted in heavy criticism for the Christian Democrat.
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Bontenbal therefore returned to it on Wednesday at Today Inside. Without completely withdrawing his position, he admitted that he had made a mistake by not standing up enough for the gay boy and condemning the lack of gay acceptance. “I’m disappointed with how I formulated it,” says Bontenbal now. “I am human and human makes mistakes.”
GL/PvdA voters find Jetten and Bontenbal more sympathetic than Timmermans
“Of course I should have said first that the boy must be able to come out safely and that schools must offer a safe environment,” Bontenbal also said. “And they must teach children our core values.” But he does not want to impose stricter restrictions on religious schools, as some parties would like: “Then you get state education.”