THE HAGUE, 30/06/07 - Defence State Secretary Cees van der Knaap is to participate in a Gay Pride parade on Saturday.

The state secretary is participating in the parade on the occasion of Pink Saturday, a gay event that takes place every year in June. This year, it is being held in Bergen op Zoom.

A ministry spokesman said Friday that Van der Knaap wants to show moral support for homosexual and lesbian military. "He is stressing via his participation that they are welcome in the armed forces".

Fifteen homosexual soldiers are participating in the parade. Van der Knaap himself is heterosexual. His participation is partly remarkable because he is a member of the Christian democrats (CDA), who were still voting against same-sex marriages a few years ago.