Proud Antwerp

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After four successful days of shockingly pink fairs, bedraggled bus-tours, slightly damp outdoor festivities, a diverse range of parties & many more events, Antwerp Pride was officially concluded on the Grand Market with a Closing Festival. Those pesky weather-gods must have felt badly about their behavior & at least this event was blessed with some genuine summer weather.

During the festival a whistling-concert was held to protest homophobic violence, in consequence of a vicious attack on a young gay man in Brussels earlier in the week, followed by other incidents in Antwerp. (We ourselves spent the Pride days with a broken window after having been vandalized during the night… for the eighth time, and only 3 weeks after our large display window had been thrown in.)

Everyone in the crowd was given a brightly coloured whistle & during one minute made their anger heard as loudly as possible. With approximately 5000 participants, it was not a noise to be easily ignored.

Overall though, the Pride days were about celebrating the good, and facing the bad with dignity instead of violence. Next year Antwerp Pride reaches its first jubilee, as it will be the fifth anniversary edition. Let’s all hope we won’t need to whistle about anything, unless there’s a hot guy passing by!

Keep your pride up!

Proud Antwerp

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