PHOTOS | 150,000 people attend 2024 Antwerp Pride parade

The 17th edition of Antwerp Pride takes place from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 August 2024. This year’s theme is ‘Many Voices. One Pride‘. The organising committee advocates a more militant pride, with a “we’re not going back in the closet” attitude in reaction to rising conservatism and conformism. But let’s face it: pride is also celebration. In the run up to August, let’s look at activities and events. Also don’t forget Antwerp Queer Arts Festival from 3 to 31 August.

According to the organising committee, 150,000 people came to participate in or attend Antwerp Pride as a spectator, Belgium‘s prime news agency Belga reports. 10,000 more than lest year. There were some ten more delegations than in 2023.

Saturday was a sunny and hot day, but not too hot. The temperature rose to some 26° Celsius, some 79° Fahrenheit. Ideal weather for a pride parade

Who parades? Small groups, midsized and larger NGOs, LGBTQIA+ initiatives such as sports associations (multisports, rugby, football, roller derby), party concepts, gay saunas, bars, cafés, clubs and afterclubs, a delegation of the military, the Antwerp Police, the University of Antwerp, political parties, trade unions, mutual insurance companies, a gym, De Lijn, commercial brands, …

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Palestine

There was one incident. Police removed half a dozen university students from the procession because they allegedly chanted “anti-Israel slogans”. “They were not registered, and the float they joined did not want their presence”, according to the police.

The protesters have been removed from the parade and were no longer allowed to participate.

Palestinian flags

The students of UAntwerp for Palestine claim that they were discriminated against because of the Palestinian flags – completely against the charter of the Pride. According to the organisation of the parade itself, it was “not the place or the time” for the youths to get their message across.

I myself did not see any of this. I saw quite a few Palestinian flags, saw ‘Free Pralestine’ signs and heard “there’s no pride in genocide” being chanted.

Georgia

But very visible was a delegation of queer people from Georgia. The country in the Caucasus, not the American state.

“Love can not be defeated”, the banner said. And they enthusiastically waved the Georgian flag.

The Georgian delegation is striking. The last few years, I have seen gay friends and acquaintances travel to Georgia and hailing it as a not to miss destination. But they seem not to know or not to take into account how violent homophobia can be there.

Big crowds

On the Scheldt Quays, big crowds cheered in the parade. The section between Het Steen and Suikkerrui and St. Anne’s Pedestrian Tunnel is popular spot. But also the Kloosterstraat was quite full.

Love United Festival

After the parade, the Love United Festival at Cockerillkaai is a main attraction. I didn’t attend in 2023 but I heard and read stories of how crowded the festival had been resulting in too long waiting lines for toilets and drinks.

Not this year. I can’t compare myself, but there were many bars where you could pick up drinks and while crowded, it was very doable.