Touristicogay and Gaylive organised their Touristico Gaylive Awards to reward LGBTQIA+ initiatives in Flanders and Belgium. Sven Boutsen (Touristico & Touristicogay) and Marc Dirix (Gaylive) host the podcast Touristico Gaylive together. 

The pair revealed the winners in their latest podcast, ‘The Darklands Edition‘ where they speak with Darklands co-organiser Jacques Smet and Mister Leather Belgium 2022 & Mister Leather Europe 2023 Andy Walgraef.

In the podcast, Sven says many people voted and participants were eager to know the results. 

LGBTQIA+ Event of the Year

Not Darklands, but Antwerp Pride (63% of the votes) won the LGBTQIA+ Event of the Year award. Darklands (25%) came second, Mister Gay Belgium (5%) third. 

Best New Party

Party concept ‘Pinkie‘ by gay bar Jeffrey‘s in Antwerp won the Best New Party award with 20.38%. It was a close call (19.44%) with runner-up ‘Queerfest‘ by Twilight and Cock, two sister gay bars in Antwerp. Drag show ‘Que Pasa on Tour‘ came third. 

Marc says it was a close call, says Marc. Only one or two votes.

LGBTQIA+ Tourism Activity

Pipi’s / Ivana’s Crazy Bus Tour during Darklands won the award for LGBTQIA+ Tourism Activity. Darkland’s Fetish City Walk with Tanguy Ottomer was runner-up. The LGBTQIA+ tour at MSK art museum in Ghent came in third. 

LGBTQIA+ New Bar

Marie Antoinette on Theaterplein in Antwerp won the LGBTQIA+ New Bar award with 35%. Runner up was Jeffrey’s with 29%. Duplex on the Hendrik Conscienceplein in Antwerp came in third with 14% of the votes. 

Icon of the Year

Armand Everaert of the now closed gay bar Strange is Icon of the Year. Armand received 36% of the votes. The Strange was Antwerp’s oldest gay bar. Former Antwerp Pride chairman Bart Abeel came in second, now deceased Will Ferdy third. Ferdy was the first celebrity in Flanders to come out as gay. 

Queer Antwerp

• ANTWERP | LGBTQIA+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen stops.
• Rainbow zebra crossings of Antwerp.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Borgerhout.
• Rainbow zebra crossing in Berchem.
• City chronicle ‘De kleur van de stad maakt mijn ziel amoureus’ recounts Queer Antwerp history.
• ‘Masculinities: Liberation through Photography’ exhibition at FOMU, Antwerp’s photography museum.
• Antwerp’s LGBTQI+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen wins Çavaria Media Award.
• PHOTOS | Rainbows lit Antwerp.
• Flemish LGBTQI+ press support rainbow community in Ukraine.
• ALLEMAAL ANTWERPENAAR | Antwerp launches campaign to motivate citizens to stand up against discrimination and intimidation.
• Borgerhout flies intersex inclusive Rainbow Progress Pride Flag for IDAHOT.

Darklands 2023

• DARKLANDS 2023 | Programme and schedule.
• DARKLANDS 2023 | A-Stay to become official Darklands: The Hotel.
• Darklands 2023 from Tuesday 7 to Tuesday 14 March in Antwerp.
• MONKEYPOX IN BELGIUM | Darklands warns visitors, as gay men are more at risk.
• Darklands 2023 to and from Deep Space.

Antwerp Pride 2023 & Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2023

• Antwerp Queer Arts Festival 2023 seeks contributors.
• ANTWERP PRIDE | Geert Van Praet succeeds retiring chairperson Bart Abeel.
• PHOTOS | Antwerp Pride 2023 from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 August.
• Antwerp Pride 2022 made big impact with Queertopia, monkeypox highjacked the festivities.