Within Belgian Pride 2018, the Belgian Pride Festival, which will be held from 3 to 20 May, will this year address the theme “Your local power”. A wide range of activities, evenings, workshops, guided tours and events on this subject will be on offer during these two weeks. Like every year, the various PRIDE FESTIVAL events will take place in the month of May. It is a key moment in the life of the LGBTI+ communities in Brussels. That’s because, apart from being a festive event, Belgian Pride is the ideal time for putting forward the community’s appeals and suggesting new lines of political thought. The theme chosen for this year is “Your local power”. The chance for the three main Belgian LGBTI+ associations – RainbowHouse Brussels, Arc-en-ciel Wallonie et çavaria – to call out their future elected representatives on questions of respect for diversity in everyday life, as the communal elections approach.
People’s lives are lived first and foremost in their street, district, municipality or city, where they live or through which they pass. Local politics therefore have a huge impact on the daily life of every citizen, including that of these LGBTI+ residents. This is why in 2018, Belgian Pride is putting municipalities and cities under the rainbow banner. On Friday 18 May, it will be the Rainbow Village’s turn to kick off the Belgian Pride weekend’s festivities. The bars in Saint-Jean district will host DJ sets and other performances put on for the occasion. On Saturday 19 May, the unmissable Belgian Pride procession, the grand finale of the festival fortnight, will fill the centre of the capital with life. Here is an overview of the activities offered by the Pride Festival…
EXHIBITIONS “SEXUAL TOWN” Benoit Geets Dates: 04/05 > 03/07 Opening: 04/05 – 8 pm Venue: RainbowHouse Brussels More information: www.rainbowhouse.be
“Pandora’s Box” LGBTQI+ violence, resistance and appropriation Collectif Mixture: François Harray, Michèle Barley, Nathalie Gassel, Michel Elias, Tamina Beausoleil Dates: 03/05 > 30/06 Venue: ULB-VUB Museum of Contemporary Art – ALLENDE Room Opening: 03/05 – 6 pm More information: www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/evenement/la-boite-de-pandore/ “Let’s get HIV out of the closet!”- Dates: 06/05 and 17/05 Venues: “Out! Village” at the Iris Festival (06/05) and “Ihsane Jarfi Day” (17/05) More information: www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/evenement/sortons-le-vih-du-placard/ DOCUMENTARIES Cinédames Film debate in collaboration with the association Activ’Elles Date: 03 May Venue: Schaerbeek House of Women More information:www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/evenement/cinedames-carol/ MASSIMADI Festival LGBTI+ films and documentaries Date: 03>05 May Venue: Bronks More information: www.massimadi-bxl.be
Ciné-club Pride Dates: 03/05 >20/05 Venue: Jacques Franck Cultural Centre More information: www.facebook.com/events/556826621377149/ SHOW “Speak Easy with Frej Haar” Open, queer and multilingual scene Date: 03/05 – 8 pm Venue: Pianofabriek More information: www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/evenement/speak-easy-with-frej-haar/
“King Kong Theory” Stage adaptation of the book by Virginie Despentes Date: 07/05 – 8.30 pm Venue: Théâtre des Riches Claires [Theatre of the Rich Clares] More information: www.lesrichesclaires.be/evenement/king-kong-theorie/ The Sassy Cabaret: Pride edition Sassy and elegant variety show Date: 17/05 – 8.30 pm Venue: Jacques Franck Cultural Centre More information: www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/evenement/the-sassy-cabaret-prideedition/ “Melting Pot” performance Ritual and improvised group dance Date: 19/05 – 11 pm Venue: Zodiac (Los Niños party) More information: www.pride.be/event/melting-pot-los-ninos-party/
WORKSHOPS Speed debating: Your local power! Meeting between politicians and activists on local topics Date: 14/05 – 5-10 pm Venue: RainbowHouse Brussels More information: www.pride.be/event/speed-debating-think-global-act-local/ “Fatlesque” with Rubyyy Jones Date: 16/05 – 6-8 pm Venue: RainbowHouse Brussels More information: www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/evenement/fatlesque-rubyyy-jones/ “Echos Tango” with Edith & Marcelle Mixed beginners queer tango course for LGBTI+ Date: 16/05 – 8.30-10.30 pm Venue: RainbowHouse Brussels More information: www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/evenement/echos-tango-edithmarcelle/
CONFERENCES Colonial oppression and sexual emancipation Meeting with Abdella Taïa Date: 08/05 Venue: Royal Museums of Fine Arts More information: www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/evenement/oppression-coloniale-etemancipation Out and Home: Cross-dress codes Meeting with artists? Sara Selma Dolorès, Gurshad Shaheman, Mademoiselle Boop Performances: “Benediction” collective Date: 12/05 Venue: La Bellone More information: www.rainbowhouse.be/fr/out&home Rainbow Tours of Brussels From unusual anecdotes to the noteworthy events in LGBTQI history, Marian Lens, sociologist, will introduce you to cosmopolitan Brussels in its rainbow colours. Dates: 6-11-13-16-18/05 Departure point: Grand-Place and RainbowHouse More information: www.facebook.com/rainbowtours COMMUNITY EVENT Ihsane Jarfi Day A commemorative event to combat discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic, cultural and religious origin. Date: 17/05 – 5-10 pm Venue: Place de la Monnaie More information:
