Due to the new measures in the City of Antwerp regarding a new and serious spike in COVID-19 cases, Antwerp Pride cancels some events and will focus more on the digital pop-up channel AntwerpPride.TV. What is cancelled and what can continue?

Sadly, Antwerp Pride cancels following activities:

• Human Rights Friday;
• The movie ‘Pride‘ at Kinepolis;
• The movie ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert‘ in the OLT Rivierenhof.

The large photos that are part of the ‘Trail of Stories‘ project will be placed in the city symbolically. In ‘Trail of Stories’, thirteen portraits will be on display of people who have a strong bond with the LGBTQ community in Antwerp.

The portraits, photographed by Noortje Palmers, will be put in place from Friday 31 July along the route where the Antwerp Pride parade would normally pass by.

Antwerp residents who want to take a walk can do so past the portraits and read the story behind the person by scanning the QR code. If you do, only make this walk individually or with the five people you are allowed to have in your social bubble. We also refer to antwerppride.tv where you can discover the people and stories.

The trail starts at Sint-Jansplein and goes via de Paardenmarkt, Hessenplein and Oude Leeuwenrui towards the river Scheldt and so on to the Gedempte Zuiderdokken.

The persons portrayed are (in no particular order):

• Jitske Van De Veire, spokesperson Wel Jong Niet Hetero.
• Lola McQueen, drag queen and activist for deaf and hearing impaired LGBTQs.
• Fleur Pierets, artist, author, activist.
• Jeroen van Lievenogen, founder and organiser of Darklands.
• Ludo Smits, founder of the Hessenhuis Café and Red and Blue discotheque.
• Hind Eljadid, word artist.
• Patrick Reyntiens of Sensoa and hiv long-term survivor.
• Paul Rademaeckers, founder of GOC and he will be 100 years old in August.
• Hannelore Hooyberghs, transgender and DJ.
• Maud Vanhauwaert, former city poet of Antwerp.
• Tayo Oyesanya, Antwerp Pride volunteer and LGBTQ refugee.
• Nadou Kebede, ally.

The thirteenth portrait is Rob Scheers, who for many years was a loyal Antwerp Pride volunteer and a well-known face in our community. Earlier this year, Rob died of the effects of COVID-19. In this way Antwerp Pride wants to give him a tribute, but also all the victims of this pandemic and the people in essential professions, in which many LGBTQ’s are also working.

Other activities

The exhibition ‘Together’ at the M HKA will continue to take place from Thursday 6 August, which you can visit after booking.

The guided walks ‘True Colors of Antwerp‘ will also take place in groups of maximum nine people, who have to wear a mask and with observing the necessary social distancing.

In addition, anyone can order the Antwerp Pride Surprise Box via antwerppride.tv. In this box you will find all kinds of nice Antwerp Pride gadgets and goodies, including a duo ticket for the exhibition Together at the M HKA and access to premium content on antwerppride.tv

AntwerpPride.TV is therefore our main focus this year. During pride week this will be your hub for interviews, reports, short films and many surprises.

Be safe!

The organization of Antwerp Pride asks everyone to take the measures announced by the various authorities to heart and to follow them closely.

“We ask tourists who planned to spend the Pride period in Antwerp to keep a close eye on and follow the travel advice issued by their government.”

“We had prepared for a corona proof edition and now we have to further limit this”,  Antwerp Pride chairman Bart Abeel responds.

“But health and solidarity are now of the utmost importance. I want to thank everyone who went out of their way to come up with an exciting alternative Pride program and we will make the best of it. We ask the people of Antwerp to hang out their rainbow flag in the coming days, so that we can still color in the message of Pride. Keep it healthy and keep it safe.”