Brussels Pride is officially part of the region's Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The next step is for it to be recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, along with other cities and countries.
Brussels Pride, an annual celebration in honour of the LGBTQIA+ community and a major platform to fight for their rights, has been officially recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Brussels. It is the first Region in Belgium to recognise the event, which takes place in May every year, as heritage.
"While we continue to fight daily for an inclusive and tolerant society, this shows that Pride is part of our collective identity," outgoing Brussels State Secretary for Heritage Ans Persoons (Vooruit.brussels) wrote on social media. "Brussels is a proud queer capital and aims to be an international example to celebrate and protect diversity."
We erkennen de #BrusselsPride als immaterieel cultureel erfgoed. Hiermee tonen we dat de Pride deel uitmaakt van onze collectieve identiteit. Brussel is een fiere queer hoofdstad en wil een internationaal voorbeeld zijn om diversiteit te vieren en te beschermen. 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/1IsM8JRX9X
— Ans Persoons (@AnsPersoons) October 31, 2024
The recognition comes 45 years after the very first Pride parade in the streets of Brussels. It has since evolved from a mainly activist event attracting around 5,000 in the 90s to ‘Pride for all’, in which LGBTQIA+ people and anyone who supports diversity celebrate side by side. Last year, 200,000 people attended.
"The fact that this Pride has been recognised by the Brussels Region as cultural heritage is a huge step forward," Cille Deman of Brussels Pride said. "Until 1996, we were not even allowed to use the city's central avenues."
UNESCO heritage
This decision is part of a wider international movement to get this concept recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Netherlands recognised Amsterdam Pride as a national heritage in 2019 and Luxembourg and others have also started a process to have their respective Pride events recognised.
If many countries register their Pride celebration as a national heritage site, a transnational and intercontinental candidature dossier can be submitted. "The idea will be presented during the biennial WorldPride, in Amsterdam in 2026," said Persoons.
While welcoming the recognition and Belgium's progressiveness more generally, Deman stressed that attitudes don't change as fast as laws. "We can get married but most homosexuals don't dare walk down the street hand in hand. A lot still needs to be done to change the mindset, which is why Pride is still needed."
