Turkish authorities have barred an American gay cruise from calling at the ports of Kuşadası (Kusadasi) and Istanbul, forcing the ship to alter its Mediterranean itinerary and prompting renewed criticism of the country’s deteriorating record on LGBTQIA+ rights.
Tag: Politics
ANTWERP PRIDE 2026 | Five-day festival combines protest, celebration and community as organisers respond to rising discrimination and global backlash
2026 marks the nineteenth (19th) edition of Antwerp Pride. From Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August, Antwerp in Belgium will once again be taken over by rainbow vibes. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2026 edition, the organising committee focuses on fearing less and being fearless.
ANTWERP | Unveiling cenotaph for Congolese who died during 1894 World’s Fair
A cenotaph bearing the names of the seven Congolese individuals who died during the 1894 Antwerp World’s Fair was unveiled on 12 May 2026 at Schoonselhof cemetery.
ANTWERP | 2026 Sinksenfoor attracts 700,000 visitors
Sunday 28 June marked the final day of this year‘s Pentecost Fair or Sinksenfoor in Antwerp. The country’s largest fair was held at Spoor Oost for the tenth time since 23 May. Despite the extremely hot weather, the fair was able to welcome more than 700,000 visitors. Last year, the fair received 800,000 people.
DENVER | Visit of the Colorado State Capitol
September 2025. After Oscar came to London in June 2024 and I joined him there for a day, I’m now going to his hometown of Denver in Colorado. My second trip to the United States in 2025, after visiting my uncle and aunt in Wilmington, North Carolina. No, Denver is is not on foreign tourists’…
66 countries criminalise gay sex
The number of countries where consensual same-sex sexual relations are illegal has risen to 66 following the adoption of a new anti-LGBTQ law in Niger in June 2026, marking a reversal after years of gradual global decriminalisation. Specialist on the subject is the blog 76 Crimes. When Colin Stewart started that project, the list contained…
COLORADO | Boulder ft. Chautauqua Trail, Boulder-Dushanbe Teahouse and Pearl Street Mall
September 2025. After Oscar came to London in June 2024 and I joined him there for a day, I’m now going to his hometown of Denver in Colorado. My second trip to the United States in 2025, after visiting my uncle and aunt in Wilmington, North Carolina. No, Denver is is not on foreign tourists’…
11-14 JULY 2026 | Antwerp counts down to The Tall Ships Races as 36 majestic sailing ships prepare to arrive
Antwerp is preparing to welcome some of the world’s most spectacular sailing vessels as the 70th edition of The Tall Ships Races returns to the city from Saturday 11 to Tuesday 14 July. Organisers are putting the finishing touches to both the internationally renowned sailing competition and a four-day public festival that is expected to…
GAY MONACO | Monaco Pride 2026?
I visited the Principality of Monaco past Sunday. At the start of Pride Month, which is mostly an American affair, I wondered if Monaco has a Pride. It has, but not at a scale we’re used to. The principality on the Mediterranean Sea isn’t exactly known to be a queer hotspot.
ANTWERP | Scheldt Quays between Sint-Michielstraat and Sint-Jansvliet to become event space
The City of Antwerp has approved the final design for the third and last phase of the redevelopment of the Scheldt Quays in the Sint-Andries and Zuid (South) area, marking a significant step in the long-running transformation of the riverfront. The plans cover the northernmost section of the zone, between Sint-Michielstraat and Sint-Jansvliet, and include…