Brussels Pride will go ahead as planned this year, as the €40,000 in optional subsidies that the organisers were relying on have now been confirmed, despite the ongoing political impasse in the formation of the Brussels Government. The funding had been blocked for some time due to the region operating under provisional twelfths, which limits spending to only essential expenses.

Rainbow House Brussels, which coordinates Pride Week, had previously warned that the event was at risk. The subsidies, equivalent to last year’s, will now be granted, as confirmed by outgoing Finance Minister Sven Gatz (Open VLD) during a plenary session of the Brussels Parliament. The confirmation came in response to a question by Stijn Bex, faction leader for Groen.

7 tot 17 May

The announcement brings relief to the organisers, who had until now received no assurance of financial support. Pride Week is scheduled to take place from 7 to 16 May, culminating in the Brussels Pride March on 17 May, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT.

Pride coordinator Xavier Wyns had earlier stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that with less than a month to go, the majority of their subsidies remained inaccessible as long as a government had not been formed.

Caretaker government

Because of the ongoing formation talks, the Brussels-Capital Region has been functioning under a limited budget framework, where only necessary expenses are authorised. Optional subsidies, such as those for Pride, are typically excluded under these rules.

Stijn Bex underlined the importance of the event, explaining that the €40,000 is needed for both the Pride March and the cultural activities held throughout Brussels during Pride Week. 

These include events focused on queer activism, history, and future perspectives. He added that it is vital to keep telling these stories, particularly at a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are increasingly under pressure.

He referred to recent acts of violence against the queer community, including a homophobic attack on two people aboard a MIVB / STIB bus earlier this year, and cited a study by JOP which found that homophobic violence among young people is once again becoming more socially accepted. According to Bex, an event like Pride is more important than ever, and Brussels must continue to set an example.

Government support

In addition to the confirmed regional subsidy, Pride Week will also receive €10,000 from the City of Brussels and €10,000 from the regional administration Equal.brussels. The Pride March itself is funded separately by the regional tourism agency Visit.brussels, and not by Rainbow House.

Wyns pointed out that the combined support from the City and Equal.brussels would not have been sufficient on its own. 

He said it would have been a bitter situation, particularly given that this is the first edition of Pride since the event was officially recognised as intangible heritage of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Intangible heritage

Brussels Pride is the second Pride event in the world to receive such recognition. Last year’s edition attracted more than 200,000 attendees.

Pride musem to MIMA?

To further highlight the significance of Pride in Brussels, Groen is supporting a proposal to transform the recently closed MIMA museum in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek / Molenbeek-Saint-Jean into a Pride Museum. 

Bex said that establishing such a museum in the European capital, which is also bidding to become European Capital of Culture in 2030, would send a strong signal. He added that Brussels must continue to champion human rights, which he described as being part of the city’s DNA.

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