Judge us on our policy. Not on an opinion
- Antwerp Pride
- Jul 17
- 8 min read
Our proud metropolis once again turns rainbow-colored, but how deep do those colours run in the new administration? Antwerp Pride sent Dave Sinardet, the affable professor of political science, to City Hall’s "Schoon Verdiep" where he dives into policy together with acting mayor Koen Kennis (N-VA) and alderwoman for equal opportunities Lien Van de Kelder (Vooruit).
Where are the days when LGBTQIA+ themes were a dividing line between conservative and progressive politicians? Fortunately, those days seem to be over if we may believe the collegiality and una-nimity between Koen Kennis (N-VA) and Lien Van de Kelder (Vooruit). On rainbow issues, they speak in unison. “Fortunately, there are no extremes in power in this city,” says alderwoman Van de Kelder shortly after a warm welcome.
We would have liked to include new mayor Els Van Doesburg, but as is well known, she is at the time of this interview in the final stages of a happy pregnancy and, on doctor’s advice, must rest. On his first day as acting mayor — and that came sooner than expected — Koen Kennis takes the honours. But Van Doesburg was happy to make her beautifully restored office avail-able. It will form the perfect setting for a sometimes lively conversation.
Dave Sinardet: As an icebreaker: have you ever walked in a Pride?
Van de Kelder: “Not in a Pride yet. In May, I joined an Idahot bike ride across various campuses and, together with Mister Gay Belgium, I hoisted the rainbow flag. But Antwerp Pride always falls during my va-cation. This year I’ll come back especially. With everything happening internation-ally, I find it important to come support Antwerp Pride.”
Kennis: “For me too, Antwerp Pride falls during my vacation, and I really need it. But my daughter is a proud participant of the Pride and keeps me updated.”
Van de Kelder: “I’ll dance extra hard just for you” (laughs).
Kennis: “Be sure to share those pictures.”
Not only internationally but also in Antwerp there are troubling signals. Kevin Vereecken, N-VA city councillor, told me during last year’s Antwerp Pride political debate that he used to dare to walk hand in hand with his partner in Antwerp streets, but not anymore. According to him, many people from our community are leaving the city because of a feeling of insecurity. What are your thoughts on this?
Kennis: “Antwerp has always been a tolerant city. Freedom and diversity are in our genes. That’s also necessary for a trading city with a large port. Every year, we promote that through our campaign ‘All of us Antwerpians,’ to raise awareness that we are all different, but we must accept each other. Live and let live. In terms of orientation, colour, religion, clothing on the streets... It’s a continuous effort — as a city, as a community, but also for each individual. When you see that tolerance declining, it’s very concerning. Moreover, ‘All of us Antwerpians’ is also the title of our coalition agreement.”
Still, if a city councillor says it was better 25 years ago, that’s also a reproach to your policies, since both Vooruit and N-VA have been in the administration all that time.
Kennis: “Among other things, we have lowered the threshold for reporting hate crimes and want to bring the police closer to the victims. We also provide specialized training to the police. It is very important that when people are victims of hate crimes — for any reason, verbal or physical — they file a report. Only then can we map out problems and respond appropriately if needed.”
Van de Kelder: “I think Vooruit and N-VA are parties that hold equality and non-discrimination in high regard. That’s why we have the Diversity unit within the police and mediation teams that do good work. Not every problem has to be solved with harsh action; mediation should always be the first step and can often resolve a lot. But reporting remains important. With our campaign ‘All of us Antwerpians,’ we clearly say ‘no’ to discrimination in all its forms. We call on people not to look away from discrimination. That starts at the kitchen table, for example. If I hear from my children that someone is being called gay at school, then it’s my responsibility as a parent to explain that they shouldn’t let that slide and to teach them how they could respond.”
N-VA provides mayor Els Van Doesburg, who in the past made critical comments about transgender rights.
Kennis: “For me it is crucial that we continue to pursue a policy of tolerance and diversity for the entire community. Of course, everyone can have personal insights. You’re not going to prevent that.
Our coalition agreement is also titled ‘All of us Antwerpians.’ We must affirm that.” You mustn’t underestimate the impact her comments had within the trans community. Some fear we have a transphobic mayor.
Kennis: “It’s good that you say that, and I will certainly discuss it with her. Once again: judge us on our policy, not on a personal opinion. Just because someone has an opinion, doesn’t mean they act on it within a coalition agreement. Goethe wrote a beautiful poem about that: ‘Die Gedanken sind frei.’ Thoughts are free. That too is tolerance.”
For you, are all letters of the LGBTQIA+ movement important? Because in politics and sometimes even within the community, a distinction is increasingly made between LGB and the rest.
Kennis: “But of course. I mean, Dave, surely we don’t need to talk about that anymore...”.
Van de Kelder: “We must listen carefully to certain subgroups, such as trans people. If we notice there is more discrimination there, we must see what we can do. But tolerance also means listening to people who maybe aren’t there yet or for whom things are going too fast. From there, we can start a conversation. It does affect me when you say that there’s a growing divide within the community itself. I think a joint signal is important.”
All right, let’s take a look at policy and the coalition agreement. What will you concretely do over the next six years for the LGBTQIA+ community in this city?
Van de Kelder: “Two important target groups in our policy are young people and the elderly. We’ll continue our collaboration with BAZZZ, an organization that offers a safe space for teens and young people with a migration background who want to talk about LGBTQIA+ topics. I also find the Purple Campaign very important. They make these topics discussable in education, and we also provide bystander training in schools. The association Wel Jong remains an important partner for us, and we will continue to support them. Furthermore, we will also pay attention to diversity in residential care centres so that everyone — LGBTQIA+ or not — can feel good and understood there. Our coalition agreement also states that we will apply to be host city for the EuroGames, the well-known LGBTQIA+ sports event that can bring a sporty and positive atmosphere to our city. Those are just a few concrete examples of what we’ll do, but I also see opportunities within my other policy domains of culture and labour. In the cultural sector, there are an impressive number of initiatives working inclusively towards the LGBTQIA+ community. I find the Antwerp Queer Arts Festival, for example, a valuable project. Many of our museums pay attention to queer artists, the MAS even bought the interior of Café Strange, De Studio organizes Send in the Clowns... We enable a lot there. In my other portfolio of labour, we continue to focus on inclusion in the workplace. In the past, practical labour market tests were conducted to check whether there is discrimination against the rainbow community. The results showed there was not, but we still need to remain vigilant.”
There is some concern at Het Roze Huis. Due to a decree change at the Flemish level, they are losing part of their operational funding. Can the city play a role there?
Van de Kelder: “The problems are known and discussions are ongoing. I can’t say more about it for now. Most of their funding, by the way, comes from the city and not from Flanders. Places like Het Roze Huis are very important in our city.”
You are also alderwoman for international solidarity. Do you see opportunities there?
Van de Kelder: “This term we want to focus more on North-South cooperation to further stimulate solidarity among Antwerpians. I can’t give a specific example yet, because this is still work in progress, but your themes will be included here too, as soon as we have an agreement with the organizations that want to commit to this.”
This article will likely appear after June 29 but is the city sending a delegation to the forbidden Pride in Budapest?
Van de Kelder: “Kathleen Van Brempt, who is parliamentary group leader of Vooruit Antwerp and a Member of the European Parliament, will be present. We have the resolution of the Flemish Parliament condemning Hungary. Federal minister Rob Beenders is trying to anchor marriage equality in the constitution. It’s a shame that all this is necessary, but I think these are important signals that we support as a city.”
Kennis: “We never send an official delegation from the city in this context. But of course, I won’t have a problem if city officials want to go.”
Why no official delegation? The mayor of Budapest is pro Pride. He ignores the ban of his president Orban and hangs out rainbow flags in his city. You could see it as support for a colleague?
Kennis: “I think you have to be careful with that. A lot of stupid things happen in the world, and we can’t send delegations everywhere. We also don’t want to import international conflicts. Moreover, there are agreements between the various levels of who does what. As a city, we must ensure that everything goes well in Antwerp and let us be an example for the rest of the world. International politics is for the Belgian government. Our new prime minister will certainly not remain silent when LGBTQIA+ rights need to be defended on the international stage.”
One more thing. A few months ago, there was consternation over an expansion of the police regulation on public indecency. Due to that expansion, one could in strict terms risk an administrative fine (GAS-boete) for sunbathing shirtless in a park. What’s the status of that regulation?
Kennis: "That expansion was mainly intended to protect sex workers who, under pressure from their pimps, must go ever further to recruit clients. Now, that regulation has been annulled by the province. It was certainly not the intention to return to a prudish era. I’m still convinced that our police can handle this wisely. We’re reviewing it, because the problem for sex workers still exists and we want to protect them as best as we can.”
Finally this. For the city, Antwerp Pride is a major event. The organizers are advised by the city not to make the celebration any bigger, because the city has its limits. This year, during the same week as Antwerp Pride, there is also an outdoor concert by Ed Sheeran and a techno party by Carl Cox at the Waagnatie. How do you reconcile that?
Kennis: “A lot depends on opportunity. The organizers of those other events had the chance to bring those artists to Antwerp on those dates or not at all. Then you have to make that possible. Our departments also gave the green light
in terms of feasibility. It will be extra festive that week, and Antwerp will be ready.”
Van de Kelder: “See it as a test case. If this works, what’s stopping Antwerp Pride next year?” (winks).
Duly noted.
Interview Dave Sinardet (he/him) - Text: Wilfried Eetezonne (he/ him) - Pictures: Marcel Lennartz (he/him)
