Felicity Long
If you had to come up with a list of what Belgium is known for, what would be on it? The medieval Ommegang pageant, maybe? Comic strips (think Tintin and the Smurfs)? How about Belgian fries served with a mayo-based Andalouse sauce?
Interestingly, while all three made it onto the Brussels-Capital Region's intangible cultural heritage list, the bigger news is the inclusion of Brussels Pride.
For the record, Brussels Pride is an annual celebration in the Belgian capital, held in spring, that honors the LGBTQ+ community.
The designation of Pride in the intangible cultural heritage list is the first step in the application process to Unesco, to be submitted transnationally with Amsterdam, for its official recognition of Pride globally.
In the meantime, Brussels is gearing up for Brussels Pride 2025, to take place May 17, with a theme that is both celebratory and cautionary.
Called "Unite, Time to Protect Our Rights," Brussels Pride is a "call for unity to defend the rights, freedom, health, identity and diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community," according to its organizers at www.brusselspride.eu/en/theme-2025.
The event kicks off European Pride season and is expected to draw more than 200,000 attendees this year.
Promoted as a peaceful protest, the event organizers cite an uptick in discrimination, from threats and bullying to outright bans, that members of the LGBTQ+ community are increasingly facing in person and online, not just in Europe, but globally.
The official language for this year's event goes on to state: "Brussels Pride is keen to reiterate the importance of defending [our] rights peacefully and of pushing governments to act in accordance with international human rights conventions."
What goes on at Brussels Pride? Visitors can expect 10 days of activities in the heart of the city, including the Saint-Jacques neighborhood in city center, teeming with pop-up art, music and theatrical venues and, in the evening, building facades transformed with rainbow flag lighting.
Highlights include the iconic Pride parade, complete with floats, flags and costumes, and Pride Village, where representatives of supporting entities — including associations, nonprofits and private companies — can network and socialize.
In the language of the organizers, "It is essential to support everyone, regardless of their origin, gender, religion, culture, skin color or disability. Let's unite, beyond differences, generations and borders, to protect each other."