THE BELGIAN OSTEND IS PLACED ON THE TOURIST LGBTQ MAP

ME News - From now on, the city of Ostend will receive a gay map with an overview of 17 local affairs that make it clear that LGBTQ people are welcome. 

The ‘Gaymap’ of Ostend was presented on Monday in Rebus, the LGBTQ house of the province of West Flanders in the presence of Mayor Johan Vande Lanotte and Alderman for Equal Opportunities Tom Germonpré. This map is part of an international concept of ‘Friends - the Gaymap’ which already exists for twenty years.

From left to right: Tom Germonpré, Johan Vande Lanotte, Sabine Roobroeck

From left to right: Sabine Roobroeck, Johan Vande Lanotte, Tom Germonpré

Antwerp and Brussels in Belgium have had such a 'Gaymap' for fifteen years and now also Ostend. These maps can be found in 15 European cities and in the United States. Ostend is now located between major cities such as Barcelona, Berlin, London, Madrid, New York, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Tel Aviv, ... "Ostend is the smallest metropolis of Western Europe and this is reflected here," Vande Lanotte jokes.

Openness to LGBTQ people

“It’s essential that nobody has to hide or be ashamed of their own nature. With the 'Gaymap' the city of Ostend wants to continue the tradition from openness to LGBTQ people. Because we have to keep that openness. Ostend is a free city in a free society, and we can’t let anyone take that away. LGBTQ people have always been explicitly present in Ostend," says Vande Lanotte.

“And is it still necessary to support LGBTQ people? If you see what is happening in the world every day, this is apparently still necessary," adds Germonpré.

Rebus thought it was important that the 'Gaymap' only show business that has a specific offer to LGBTQ people and business that are kept open by LGBTQ people.

"It is important that LGBTQ people have the choice to be themselves and not always have to comply with the straight norm," says Sabine Roobroeck the coordinator of Rebus.

The maps will be distributed regionally by the tourism department of Ostend and via the LGBTQ houses in Flanders. The maps will also be placed in the different boxes in the other cities that are part of the concept.

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TEXT & PICTURES
​Thierry Hanan Scheers

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​Belgium, ME News,
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Thierry Hanan Scheers

Thierry Hanan loves to travel without something to plan in advance and let everything just be what it is. Thierry Hanan has no fears to leave just on foot or by hitchhiking. Destination? Somewhere, nowhere and everywhere.

#traveller #backpacker
​#storyteller

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