Johan – Thanks for the update. I thought your program would keep the funding…

An orthodox Christian organisation that claims to promote gay interests will no longer be eligible for government subsidy. The ‘Our Way’ foundation was in fact attempting to ‘cure’ homosexuality, Education Minister Ronald Plasterk told the lower house of parliament on Thursday. Protecting minority interests is part of Mr Plasterk’s portfolio.
Earlier in the week, Mr Plasterk was defending his decision to subsidise Onze Weg (Our Way); his change of opinion was prompted by written questions from two opposition MPs.
The MPs, Boris van der Ham of liberal democrat party D66 and Anouchka van Miltenburg of the conservative VVD, were quoting an article in the Revu weekly that claimed the organisation is targeting homosexuals in order to alter their sexual orientation. Our Way is mainly active among evangelical Christians and was granted a 50,000 euro subsidy in September 2008.
Subsidy for candour
The education ministry then asked the foundation for an explanation, which it provided in a letter to the minister. Mr Plasterk told NRC Handelsblad that:

“The organisation is transgressing the limits by devoting itself to curing homosexuality. Our subsidy is intended to promote an open discussion of homosexuality among orthodox Christians. It is out of the question that we support clubs that advocate helping people to get rid of their homosexual feelings.”

More from NRC Handelsblad International
In its letter Our Way wrote that believing in Jesus Christ can lead to “a reduction in the intensity of homosexual feelings, which for some may result in a change towards heterosexuality.” Mr Plasterk acknowledges that the foundation says that such a change is not the result it is aiming for.