80,000 brave weather for Belgian Pride

More than 80,000 people turned out yesterday under grey skies in Brussels for the 20th edition of the Belgian Pride festival and parade, celebrating the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.

The annual parade through the city centre began at the Beurs with a message from organisers. “Belgian Pride is a celebration of diversity and equality,” said Chille Deman and Alan De Bruyne. “We are proud to take part in this parade and to show who we are in all our variety.”

Huge strides have been made in equal rights for LGBT people over the 20 years of the event, they pointed out. “For this 20th anniversary we can measure how far we have advanced,” said Deman. “But there is much work that remains, socially and legally. Gay-bashing and ordinary homophobia continue to exist, and complaints by victims are often not followed up. We remind ourselves, too, that homosexuality is a criminal offence in 72 countries and carries the death penalty in seven.”

The atmosphere was, as always, relaxed, aside from some cat-calling from the sidelines by a group of youths. Police reported no incidents, and the Red Cross said that, although some 20 people had been treated and several taken to hospital, no one was in a serious condition.

Meanwhile, in Antwerp, a small group of mainly elderly activists held their own “March for the Family”, organised by a group that considers the “natural family” to be made up only of a father, a mother and children. Speakers called on the church to distance itself from calls by Antwerp bishop Johan Bonny for more respect for gay people and demanded the government repeal the law that allows gay couples to adopt.

Photo by ArieAsona/Demotix/Corbis