Teacher faces dismissal after coming out

After revealing his homosexuality, Duran Renkema was suspended from his job as teacher with a Christian primary school. JOEP DERKSEN reports how a legal loop-hole makes it possible to fire employees for coming out of the closet.

The Netherlands is considered to be a liberal country, where heterosexuals and homosexuals are equal. Yet, this is not the true situation. Gay teachers working at Christian schools run the risk of being fired the moment they come out of the closet. Duran Renkema (44) is a prime example. He has been a part of the Society for Reformed Primary Schools (Gereformeerd Primair Onderwijs van West-Nederland, GPO-WN) for the past six years to everyone's satisfaction. That is, until he made public that he left his wife and two children to live with his boyfriend.

From that moment on, his employers at the Dr. K. Schilderschool in Oegstgeest made it clear he is no longer welcome at the school and he was suspended. Renkema is now fighting a possible dismissal and has taken his case to the Dutch committee for equal rights, Commissie Gelijke Behandeling; the first time ever that such a case has been brought before the body. “My employer does not believe it is possible for me as a practising homosexual to teach at a strict Christian school,” says Renkema, who has been with the school since 2010 and is a devout Christian.

An introduction to the school’s philosophy on their website reads: “Over 160 children from the entire region visit our school on a daily basis. Unique for our school is the reformed identity. At school we talk about who God is and what He has given us in his Son. In what way we are all allowed to be His beloved children. We not only talk about this, we also try to show in our behaviour what it is like to be God’s child. We respect each other and forgive each other.” In Renkema's case, his decision to reveal his sexuality does not seem to be forgiven. He acknowledges that homosexuality is a controversial issue in the Dutch Reformed Protestant church, but laments the fact he could not be an example to his students.

“I wasn't given the opportunity to show my students after coming out of the closet that I'm the same person I was last year,” he says. “I won’t accept my dismissal; it’s a matter of principals.” GPO-WN general director Rene Tromp has declined to comment on Renkema's suspension. “We don’t give any information on individual staff members, their private situation or any possible conflicts.” According to Dutch law, it is illegal to fire an employee based on his or her sexuality. However, in certain situations exceptions can be made under the so-called ‘enkele feit constructie’ (single fact construction). The law does not outline what these exceptions may entail.

ContrariO, an organisation that works for mutual recognition between homosexuals and the Reformed Church supports this legal loop-hole. “From our own experience, we have seen the results of conversations with Christian schools. In such a way, we aim to obtain a gay friendly climate. Eliminating this legal exception can have an adverse effect. It can stop communication about belief, emancipation and mutual respect,” says ContrariO spokesman Rene Venema. Their organisation works to obtain a gay friendly climate at Christian schools through open dialogue. “It is not easy talking with churches and schools about homosexuality. But we try to find a solution and sometimes the teachers can even continue to work at their schools.”

Vera Bergkamp, spokesperson for the Dutch gay rights organisation COC, has a different view. She argues that the single fact construction should be abolished immediately. “With this law, religious schools can openly get rid of gay students and teachers. The case of Renkema shows this all too well.” Earlier this year, the liberal socialist party D66 proposed legislation that would abolish the single fact construction, supported by the Labour (PvdA), Socialist, GroenLinks and liberal democrat VVD parties. However, the subject has not yet been taken to parliament.

“Currently, the law mentions the term ‘special circumstances,’ but such a description is very vague. Either explain what these special circumstances are, or delete that sentence. A law should be clear,” says Renkema. “It is very clear that schools cannot discriminate based on a person’s sexuality. On 2 November, the court will rule on Renkema's future as a teacher at the Dr K. Schilderschool. As he sees it, their decision will have a heavy impact on the lives of hundreds of men and women who work in special education and struggle with the question of whether or not to reveal their true sexuality.

“If I return to the school, there will be a dialogue between me, the school board and the parents. I sincerely believe that we will come closer together and we will all be winners,” he says. “However, if the court rules in favour of the school, we will have many losers and the chance for a wonderful dialogue will have passed.”

Gepubliceerd in: The Holland Times, november editie.