Christian group loses subsidy for gay cure

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Dutch Education Minister Ronald Plasterk says an orthodox Christian group will no longer receive a subsidy after allegedly attempting to cure homosexuality.

Plasterk said this week that the annual government subsidy provided to the Our Way foundation will be no more due to the Christian group's suspected attempts to alter the sexual orientations of gay and lesbian individuals, Radio Netherlands/Expatica said Friday.

The Our Way group responded by claiming the religious organization does not support any other groups that target homosexuals and their sexual orientations.

"Our subsidy is intended to promote an open discussion of homosexuality among orthodox Christians," the group said. "It is out of the question that we support clubs that advocate helping people to get rid of their homosexual feelings."

After the initial allegation of gay cure research appeared in a publication, Members of Parliament Boris van der Ham and Anouchka van Miltenburg pushed for the removal of the subsidy, which amounted to $67,000 a year.