Sadly, the Christians are right yet again. If you give special rights to queers, you open to door to a chaotic assortment of demands from all kinds of perverts.
Case in point: Dutch dog owners are enraged by a new Amsterdam law that has legalized gay sex in that city's historic garden, the lovely old Vondelpark, while dog owners remain subject to a fine if they let their pets off the leash. Locals fear an inevitable clash between the poofs and leashed pooches.
Paul van Grieken, an Alderman in the Oud-Zuid district of the city, has startled many Amsterdammers, despite their famously liberal attitudes, with plans to allow public sex as part of this summer's new rules of conduct for the country's best-known park.
"Why should we try to impose something that is actually impossible to impose, which also causes little bother for others and for a certain group actually means much pleasure?", he said.
Amsterdam's beautiful Vondelpark in the center of city draws hordes of summer visitors, families, skaters and joggers.
But the park's rose garden has become famous as a trysting spot for gay men looking for uncomplicated sexual encounters.
Mr van Grieken stresses that tolerance to "cruising" gays, aimed at protecting homosexuals from violence, will have "strict rules attached".
"Thus, condoms must always be cleared away, it must never take place in the neighborhood of children's playgrounds and the sex must be restricted to the evening and night-time," he said.
The new park rules have the blessing of the Dutch police, who have urged all Dutch parks to follow Amsterdam's lead.
But Amsterdam's dog owners are furious. The new park code of conduct will set out stiff fines for dogs that are allowed to run around the Vondelpark off the leash.
"Research showed that many people find this disturbing," said Mr van Grieken.
One dog owner protested: "As long as the park has existed, we've been allowed to let our dogs run freely. It's outrageous that we will be punished from now on but public sex won't. If they can drop their trousers, why can't I let my dog loose?" A valid point, I think.
If the boys can let their wieners out, then the wiener dogs should be able to be let out also.
Thanks for the post, I’ll be giggling all day and checking out flights to Oslo via Amsterdam.
Posted by: Billy | Wednesday, 19 March 2008 at 01:26 PM
Given the peculiarities of pronunciation, it should not be surprising that the oral version of that facility is "fondle park".
Posted by: chamblee54 | Wednesday, 19 March 2008 at 06:36 PM
Funny as hell.
Posted by: paul | Wednesday, 19 March 2008 at 07:23 PM