Belgian Pride returns to Brussels in May for the first time in two years

After two years of cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Belgian Pride, which celebrates the LGTBQIA+ community, will return to the streets of Brussels on 21 May, RTBF and Bruzz report.

The return of Belgian Pride was announced on Tuesday, the annual awareness Lesbian Visibility Day, by Belgian Pride Brussels and the Brussels region's tourist office visit.brussels.

The festive parade celebrating the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual people and anyone who does not recognise themselves in heterosexual and cisgender norms, will adopt the theme of openness. "Open" will launch a "call for more inclusivity, respect and equality for LGBTI+ people," Belgian Pride Brussels said in a statement.

The event will start on Thursday 5 May, with the "Pride Kick-Off", a procession that will travel the streets of Brussels, passing in front of the Manneken-Pis who will be dressed in a costume designed especially for the occasion.

Over the following two weeks until the Pride parade, many buildings in the Brussels region will be illuminated in the colours of the rainbow, a global symbol of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The parade itself will begin at 13:00 at the Mont des Arts on 21 May. Some 100,000 people are expected to attend and "celebrate diversity" in an "open, safe and inclusive" atmosphere. As well as the parade, entertainment will be provided throughout the city by LGBTI+ artists and projects.