On Saturday 30 March, Ghent art centre Viernulvier, formerly De Vooruit, hosts Queer March Ghent. The ‘march’, it seems, is mostly stationary. Or is ‘march’ referring to the month of March? The slogan is ‘Building a Revolution‘ as “some things need to be broken down before you can (re)build.”

Anyway. “Queer March is a celebratory event bringing together diverse queer identities to create open dialogue through panel discussions, educate through a learning fair and workshops, connect at the queer creators market and celebrate during the queer arts showcase and the closing afterparty”, Facebook and Instagram introduce the event by VZW Janet.

The event is set to take place between 2 PM on Saturday and 6 AM on Sunday. That includes the parties. 

Pride in crisis

Queer March Ghent has already scheduled two panel discussion. 

“The first panel talk, ‘Pride in crisis?’ (3 PM to 4.30 PM), opens the discussion on relevant issues on queer activism and the pushback we’ve been seeing last years. Inclusivity in our society will be centered in the second talk ‘Queer belonging‘ (7.30 PM – 9.30 PM).” 

Both panel talks will take place in the Domzaal and will be moderated by Madonna Lenaert. The talks are free and wheelchair accessible. Afterwards there is the possibility for further questions or discussions in the Foyer of the Domzaal.

How it started?

On Instagram, QMG recounts how the queer march was born. Key terms are Ghent, queer people, intercommunal learning, learning fear, queer art show and afterparty. 

Organising committee VZW Janet involves some twenty people. Some have experience organising events, some don’t. Some knew each other beforehand, some don’t. Some are unemployed, some work three jobs. 

There is an ambition to make it a yearly event.  

Controversy

Queer March Ghent has been confronted with a controversy. The venue, Viernulvier, has been accused of mistreating on several levels a black and queer former team member. QMG has reached out to the person concerned and Viernulvier before deciding on how to proceed. 

Queer Belgium

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• BELGIUM | First Limburg Pride on Saturday 5 July 2025.
• PROGRAMME | Queer Arts Festival Leuven 2023 from 3 to 25 November.
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• Queer Arts Festival Leuven with pride parade from 3 to 25 November 2023.
• SPARTACUS GAY TRAVEL INDEX 2023 | Belgium 17th most gay travel friendly country; Malta on 1, Canada and Switzerland share 2nd.
• 1 in 3 LGBTQIA+ people in Flanders and Brussels experienced physical aggression in the past two years.
• EXHIBITION | ‘Homosexuals and Lesbians in Nazi Europe’, Kazerne Dossin, Mechelen.
• RainbowPages: interactive website promoting visibility, findability and safety by and for LGBTQIA+ people.
• Forbidden Colours helped over 500 queer refugees to flee war in Ukraine .
• ‘LGBTQIA+ BXL, Collecting Memories’ Exhibition in Brussels City Museum.
• MSK Gent – Museum of Fine Arts Ghent introduces LGBTQ+ tour.
• ANTWERP | LGBTQIA+ bookshop Kartonnen Dozen stops.
• City chronicle ‘De kleur van de stad maakt mijn ziel amoureus’ recounts Queer Antwerp history.
• Will Belgium win the Eurovision Song Contest ever again?.