Brussels, candidate city for Europride 2020
Friday, June 19, 2015 — Brussels State Secretary Bianca Debaets and Minister Pascal Smet, who will be attending the Europride in Riga this weekend, propose to organise the Europride in Brussels in 2020. “Brussels has to take the lead on LGBTIQ-rights", both politicians stated today. “Throughout the years, the Belgian Pride has shown that our city is ready to take up that leading role. As the capital of Europe, we also aim to focus now on the international dimension of this struggle by taking the lead in the organisation of Europride 2020."
This weekend Debaets and Smet will be joining the Europride in Riga. They will be discussing equal right issues with Latvian policy makers and share some good practices from Brussels. They will also argue in favor of strengthening the leading role of Brussels in the future.
“As the capital of Europe we should play a leading role", said Brussels State Secretary for Equal Opportunities Bianca Debaets. “As far as my policy in Equal Opportunities is concerned, I can say that we remain very busy about these topics, working for example on our campaign ' All Genders Welcome’ and very recently also on a new training on how to deal with homophobia for the Brussels policeman. It is our deepest wish to take Brussels a step further within this context, featuring a city where everybody is welcome, independent from one's ethnicity or sexual preference. And therefore, I would consider it an honour to organise the Europride in Brussels in 2020."
"Organising the Europride has a very important symbolic value for the entire Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community", stated Pascal Smet. “Brussels has a strong international reputation in this community. So we are doing everything we can to welcome Europride 2020 in Brussels."
