Experience

BELGIUM | Safer in theory, harsher in reality: polarisation and violence mark 2025 for LGBTQIA+ people

Posted by Timothy on

Belgium remains one of Europe’s front-runners when it comes to legal protection for LGBTQIA+ people. Yet 2025 exposed a widening gap between progressive legislation and everyday reality, one can read in ILGA-Europe‘s Annual Review. Civil society organisations report a continued rise in homophobic and transphobic violence, declining acceptance among young people, and growing polarisation in public debate.

The findings emerge from the latest Annual Review of the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people, covering January to December 2025.

Rising violence, low reporting

Belgian organisations sounded the alarm over a further increase in bias-motivated violence compared with previous years. They point to a surge in ambushes arranged via dating apps, more frequent attacks on queer venues, increased workplace harassment and expanding disinformation campaigns on social media.

Despite this trend, reporting remains strikingly low: only 14% of assaulted LGBTQIA+ people in Belgium report incidents to the police, suggesting that official statistics capture only a fraction of the problem.

Several high-profile cases marked the year. In Brussels, trials opened in April against individuals accused of luring victims through dating apps before assaulting them. Two suspects were sentenced in May. 

In November, a 31-year-old man received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for a violent assault at a gay cruising site in 2024, with the court explicitly recognising the homophobic motive as an aggravating factor.

Community spaces were also targeted. The Rainbowhouse of Verviers suffered repeated vandalism in the first half of the year, including its rainbow flag being torn down and stones thrown at the building. In Leuven, four minors were arrested in December for allegedly attempting to lure two victims via a dating app in order to assault and rob them.

Bias-motivated speech and digital hostility

Concerns about hostile rhetoric extended to media and online spaces. In April, the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel ruled that a segment broadcast by RTBF on the satirical programme ‘Le Grand Cactus‘ reinforced stereotypes about trans and non-binary people. The broadcaster apologised publicly and organised internal training sessions following consultations with LGBTQIA+ associations.

Online abuse also affected public figures. In August, Belgian out tennis player Greet Minnen revealed a homophobic death threat she received after a defeat at the Prague Open, drawing attention to the scale of anti-LGBTI hate directed at athletes on social media.

Youth acceptance declines

A study published in April by the Flemish Youth Research Platform (JOP) found that acceptance of lesbian and gay people among 16- to 18-year-olds has dropped significantly compared with surveys in 2013 and 2018. One in five respondents said aggression against gay or lesbian people could be acceptable – up from fewer than one in ten in 2018.

Researchers pointed to polarising public debates and toxic online environments as possible contributing factors.

Healthcare expands, but long waits remain

There were also positive developments. In January, the number of recognised specialised centres providing gender-affirming healthcare increased from two to six, improving regional access. In February, Belgium’s first dedicated LGBTQIA+ healthcare centre, Maison Arc-en-Ciel de la Santé (MACS), opened in Brussels.

However, waiting times for gender-affirming care still range from one to four years, raising concerns about mental health impacts and unequal access.

In July, Belgium confirmed it would maintain a four-month deferral period for blood donation by men who have sex with men, despite previous legal challenges that led to the lifting of restrictions on plasma donation.

Legal and political tensions

Belgium’s legal framework remains comparatively strong, but 2025 saw renewed political debate. In April, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) proposed removing gender markers from identity cards upon request rather than introducing a third ‘X’ option. LGBTQIA+ organisations criticised the proposal as falling short of full recognition for non-binary people.

In July, a Brussels court ruled in favour of a 51-year-old trans cyclist challenging eligibility rules introduced by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The court found that requiring trans women to have transitioned before puberty in order to compete in women’s events was discriminatory and disproportionate.

At the same time, a draft bill introduced by the Ecolo party to protect the bodily integrity of intersex people remained blocked in parliament, with no plenary debate held during the year.

Foreign policy and international stance

Belgium continued to position itself as an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights abroad. In March, authorities announced plans to update travel advice for nationals heading to the United States, citing concerns over stricter border controls and a shifting legal climate for LGBTI people.

In May, Belgium joined other European states in condemning Hungary’s restrictions on Pride events and reaffirmed its support for the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. In December, it signed a joint statement criticising Kazakhstan’s ban on so-called ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation‘.

A country at a crossroads

The overall picture for 2025 is one of contrast. Belgium continues to strengthen certain legal and institutional protections, from workplace guidance for trans and intersex inclusion to expanded healthcare infrastructure. Yet rising violence, lower youth acceptance and persistent online hostility reveal a more fragile social climate.

For activists and equality bodies, the message is clear: legal progress alone is not enough. Without stronger prevention policies, better data collection, improved reporting mechanisms and sustained investment in education and digital accountability, the gap between rights on paper and lived equality risks growing wider.

Queer Belgium

LGBTQIA+ and travel

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