Sadness and anger
We will make our voices heard louder than ever
19 June 2026
During the night of 12 to 13 June, around fifteen banners hung on lampposts in Brussels city centre were destroyed.
Put up yesterday, these banners were intended to promote the European LGBTQI+ choir festival ‘Various Voices’, which takes place from 24 to 28 June.
This was a clearly well-organised outbreak of violence, as the banners were hung at a considerable height.
The company responsible for putting them up tells us that this has never happened before, except in the case of Brussels Pride.
This is no coincidence. There is no doubt that this act of vandalism was homophobic in nature.
Various Voices is a self-funded community event.
These banners were intended to raise the profile of our event across the city and represented our largest item of expenditure on communications.
But beyond the material loss, it is above all sadness and anger that we feel.
Tearing up these banners is like tearing us apart. It is forcing our identities back into the shadows, silencing our community, and denying us the freedom to exist.
We will be filing a complaint and we will not remain silent.
In ten days’ time, 4,200 LGBTQI+ choristers will sing in Brussels, affirming their pride and defending the values of solidarity and inclusivity.
Singing is our way of responding to this violence and this hatred.
Our voices will ring out across Brussels louder than ever