Oldebroek becomes first Dutch municipality to scrap LGBT policy as church protest raises rainbow flag

The Dutch municipality of Oldebroek has become the first in the Netherlands to completely scrap its LGBT policy and stop raising the rainbow flag at its town hall, prompting a protest gathering at a local church in Wezep. The decision, made official last week, comes from a new conservative Christian coalition led by the Christelijk Verbond Oldebroek party. Dozens of residents raised the flag at the Kruiskerk, with hundreds of flags distributed in protest across the village. The scrapped policy, from 2021, had required schools and sports clubs to promote LGBT acceptance. The national parliament voted Thursday to raise the flag at its own building for the first time, with 90 votes in favor.