Pages: 1
Would YOU get married by a black registrar?
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)
Posted by: jojomataketa
Boycott of black wedding registrar shocks Belgium:
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - News that three couples in Belgium's northern region of Flanders canceled weddings to be overseen by a black registrar because of the color of his skin caused a nationwide outcry on Friday.
"They called off their weddings due around about now because they objected to a black man being in charge," an official at the town hall of Sint-Niklaas said.
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt told reporters he was horrified by the cancellations, which Belgian media said pointed to a racist undercurrent in Dutch-speaking Flanders.
"Our society does not tolerate racist behavior as stupid as this," Verhofstadt said at his weekly news conference.
Wouter Van Bellingen won a seat on the town council last October and was appointed registrar at the start of this year.
All those marrying in Sint-Niklaas must appear at the town hall for civil ceremonies, at which he now officiates.
Voters in Flanders frequently show their support for nationalism and the far-right, anti-immigrant party Vlaams Belang has 11 of the 39 seats in Sint-Niklaas's council.
"Racism is not just a problem here," Van Bellingen told Reuters by telephone. "It runs from west to east Europe."
He said he had been disappointed by the incident but pleasantly astounded by the subsequent reaction, including flowers sent to his home and a deluge of supportive e-mails.
"I understand we are now overwhelmed with requests from couples who want to get married here," he said. "I hear there is even one couple from the Netherlands."
Posted by: forwardone
Sad when this type of thing happens.
Posted by: golddust
Even worse that this sort of thing happens at all.
Posted by: jojomataketa
Yes, but the best part of the story is this:
He said he had been disappointed by the incident but pleasantly astounded by the subsequent reaction, including flowers sent to his home and a deluge of supportive e-mails.
"I understand we are now overwhelmed with requests from couples who want to get married here," he said. "I hear there is even one couple from the Netherlands."