Gay&Night Juli 2016

Pride, Quo Vadis …. ?
The first thing that comes to mind with the
question "Pride where next?" is obviously
our 10th anniversary next year. Indeed,
already nine years ago, it all started with
a small group of enthusiasts and a modest
event linked to the larger party concept
Navigaytion. There was no question of a
parade or a Closing Festival. Yet, even then
the seeds were sown for a fruitful collaboration
between the city, restaurants, society,
merchants and volunteers. And look,
last year there were 70,000 people on hand
to cheer on our parade and who walked
proudly side by side with the uniformed
police. Our partner Antwerp Queer Arts
Festival organized for the second time a
successful cultural festival and 100,000
visitors enjoyed the festivities. So yes,
our Pride is heading for a wonderful 10th
birthday, and I want to say a sincere thank
you to all partners, volunteers and sponsors
who have made this journey possible !
Pride is a festival, but pride is also a moment
to think about and reflect on what's
still wrong of course, both for us here and
in the rest of the world for gay, transgender
people and anyone who has suffered
from discrimination. This year unfortunately
we were brutally confronted with blind
terror and the misery of so many refugees.
It has us shaken vigorously and makes us
realize how exceptional but also how vulnerable
our open, tolerant and prosperous
society is. The pride movement worldwide
has over the last decades successfully
fought for equal rights and the elimination
of discrimination in key regions of
the world, but unfortunately the majority
of the world is deprived of the freedom
and rights which we enjoy every day.
Therefore this year Antwerp Pride has
chosen as its international theme: the
LGBT refugees. For them the question
"Quo Vadis" is often of vital importance.
Some compelling testimonies later in this
magazine, force us to face the sometimes
harsh reality in which many people struggle
just to survive. It gives us an insight
into why they eventually must go on the
run to find a place where they may just be
themselves in a safe manner. Here in Antwerp
we can hardly imagine this misery,
but it is the sad reality for the majority of
LGBT people worldwide. As our mayor in
an interview further on in this issue indicates,
we now have - thanks to the evolution
of the past 15 years - the luxury to think
about this issue because we have already
reached "dry land". Do we want to wallow
in this luxury, or do we work together with
policy makers and civil society organizations
to find solutions for these people? We
are justifiably proud of our "enlightened"
society. But do we choose a warm glowing
light or cold neon lights? It is already very
encouraging to read in the same interview
with our mayor and alderman Fons
Duchateau, and in the conversation with
vice-mayor Philip Heylen that the city joins
us in wanting to work out concrete solutions!
As previously stated in this preface: Pride
is certainly a party! And our city with all
its inhabitants has in recent years proved
that we are very good at it. It is therefore
with great pride with which I invite you
to enjoy to the full the rich Antwerp Pride
and Queer Arts Festival program with
international stars. Let's party together!
LOVE UNITED
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