Naked men, glittering drag queens and ABBA music all the way through: Antwerp Pride was once again a party full of love and joy, but dark clouds are gathering over the rainbow community. Our reporter walked along with the parade and saw the pink cloud being punctured at times. “It’s okay if you’re not here, but we don’t need arguments among ourselves right now.”
A record number – 150,000 visitors (!) – went to the cookie city on Saturday for a large folk festival. Pride was originally a protest, but for most people it is also an excuse for a good party. From toddlers enthusiastically waving flags, men in bright pink outfits, the biggest muscles with glitter on their torsos, drag queens with spectacular outfits and – surprisingly – many elderly people standing on the sidelines enjoying a glass of wine. Everyone could enjoy the sounds of Lady Gaga and co together with the rainbow community.
“But there are dark clouds that want to push the rainbow away.” These are not words from the mouth of our weatherman David, but from worried members of the rainbow community. A community that is no longer full on days like today, because not only ultra-conservative machos want to overhaul Pride, ‘ordinary’ LGBTQ+ people also question the parade and send their cats.
Pride remains necessary. It is not just a party for dancing, but also a real protest
Daan (23)
It is a group that, in their own words, is “horrified by all this rainbow stuff”, just think of the discussions about how many colors the rainbow flag should have, or the division around how many letters the community abbreviation should still have or the number of labels that no longer exist. can be counted on one hand. And the idea that they are generalized on the parade with the ‘extremes’ – such as the puppies – is also a bridge too far for them. Everyone should be able to be themselves, but for some this should still be limited to the living room.
One flag, so many cracks: internal divisions are growing and tolerance is falling, yet concerns seemed to melt away under the sweltering sun. “Pride remains necessary. It is not just a party to dance, but also a real protest,” says Daan (23). “There is still a lot of discrimination – especially against transgender people – and prejudices about other groups within the community are also peaking,” it said. “It’s okay if you’re not here, but we don’t need arguments among ourselves now,” Peter (30) adds. “We are already a minority. Why should we divide ourselves even more?”
It remains a far-fetched show. I like men, but the rest can be stolen from me
Laurent (34)
The last election campaign, in which themes such as sexual orientation, LGBT rights and gender identity were questioned, was a wake-up call. “It’s okay not to be on the same wavelength, but do respect each other,” is the message. Striking: Vlaams Belang, the party that traditionally sends its cat to Pride, was somewhat present this year. As the parade moved through the streets, the campaign plane of the extreme right-wing party flew above the Scheldt city.
The idea that Pride is just an ‘extravagant’ intention is not only in the minds of Flemish Belangers, but also of gays who also stay away. Laurent (34) is present for the first time this year, but still rolls his eyes several times when men walk by who expose themselves figuratively – but especially literally – or when the much-discussed ‘dogs’ walk by. “It remains a far-away show,” he says. “I like men, but the rest can be stolen from me.”
We should speak more as one community. I understand that not everyone agrees with everything, but at least have respect for each other Hannah (22)
But with the slogan ‘Many Voices, One Pride’, the mantle of love was thrown over that division for one day. Pride is the time to be yourself and you can do that openly. “I understand that some matters are sensitive and that not everyone agrees with everything, but at least have respect for each other,” says Hannah (22). “We should speak more as one community, but we are still too divided today.”
“So what?” is also often the response: let’s stop whining and just enjoy, is what it sounds like. As the parade nears its end, everyone is already getting excited for the after parties. But unfortunately, a painful reality also emerges: people who go to their car or to the station quickly change their outfit. Why? “I don’t dare walk in the underground car park in this outfit,” admits a participant who was only wearing a simple rainbow shirt. Is Pride still necessary? To ask the question is to answer it.
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