Brussels’ cultural sector will also be participating in events, with a programme of LGBTQIA+ artists and projects in collaboration with Brussels Pride.
Brussels Pride returns to honour the LGBTQIA+ community and proudly display all the colours of the rainbow in the streets of the capital of Europe. This year, the theme will be “Safe Everyday Everywhere”, promoting a society where everyone can feel free and safe, every day and everywhere.
Brussels kicks off the European Pride season. No fewer than 250,000 people are expected to take to the streets of Brussels to defend their rights and celebrate diversity. It’s an essential demonstration in Brussels to safeguard the fundamental rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.
This year, the theme chosen by Brussels Pride is “Safe Everyday Everywhere”. It’s a powerful call from the entire LGBTQIA+ community to mobilise all citizens. It’s an invitation to take concrete daily action against all forms of discrimination, violence and hate crime, everywhere in the world. The community is calling for strong, lasting action to ensure that everyone can feel free and live
in peace. Whether you’re a youth, an adult or a senior citizen. Today and tomorrow. In Belgium, Europe and around the world.
On Saturday 18 May, the Brussels Pride March will take to the streets of the city centre, while the Pride Village will welcome associations. LGBTQIA+ and allied artists will be taking to the stages
all over the heart of the capital. In all, a hundred or so partners, associations and artists will be working together to make this an important and memorable day.
The Rainbow Village and its LGBTQIA+ establishments, located in the Saint-Jacques district of the city centre, will once again be partnering the event and bringing life to the city’s streets throughout the weekend.
Brussels Pride is an inclusive event, open to everyone. To allow everyone to enjoy the event in complete peace of mind, Safe Place and Safe Santé zones will be set up at a number of strategic locations. These areas will allow anyone to take a break (Safe Place), to be looked after by healthcare staff if they feel unwell and/or to report any inappropriate or offensive behaviour with regard to their gender and/or identity (Safe Santé).
But Brussels Pride begins well before 18 May. Wednesday 8 May will mark the start of Brussels Pride Week, with an artistic and activist event taking place on the banks of the Suzan Daniel
bridge. During Pride Week, RainbowHouse (the Brussels federation of LGBTQIA+ associations) and other activist and artistic groups will be offering a rich and varied programme at the Grands
Carmes and elsewhere. On Thursday 16 May, it will be the Mini-Pride procession’s turn to wind its way through the streets of the Saint-Jacques district, marking the start of the Brussels Pride
weekend’s festivities. As the procession passes, it will salute the Manneken-Pis, who will have donned a costume designed especially for the occasion.
Finally, during Pride Week and Brussels Pride, many of the Brussels-Capital Region’s buildings will be illuminated and decorated in the colours of the rainbow flag.
Brussels Pride is a chance to celebrate diversity and defend and demand LGBTQIA+ rights, with the goal of making society more inclusive and more equal. Indeed, beyond its festive aspect,
Brussels Pride is, now more than ever, an opportunity to assert the rights and demands of the community, and to stimulate political debate.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
