Dutch Constitution enshrines protections for LGBT people

Politicians in the Netherlands have voted to enshrine protections for LGBT people in the country’s constitution.

The Dutch House of Representatives voted by 124 to 26 in favour of a measure to amend the country’s constitution to add explicit protections based on sexual orientation.

Article 1 of the Constitution currently states: “All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race or sex or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted.”

In the recent vote, lawmakers opted to add “sexual orientation” and “disability” to the list of protected characteristics, alongside assurances that gender characteristics, gender identity and gender expression are covered by existing sex and gender provisions.

After the shameful amendment of Russian Constitution banning same-sex marriage last week, there is good news from Netherland!