BRUSSELS – The 30th anniversary of Brussels Pride, a major celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, was overshadowed by a violent incident on Saturday evening when three performers were physically assaulted in a clear act of homophobic aggression.
The artists, identified as Sherine Falasteen, Anira Orlando, and drag performer Diva Beirut, were attacked by a group of teenagers just a short walk from the main stage where they had just performed. The assault underscores a troubling rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, a concern that was ironically central to this year's Pride theme.
Details of the Attack
In a statement posted on social media, Diva Beirut described how the situation escalated rapidly. The initial group of approximately seven youths quickly grew to about 25 after they called for others to join them.
"They threw a bike at me, pushed me to the ground and started hitting me while shouting ‘fucking gays’," she wrote. A video shared by the artist showed her holding a bloodied cloth to her face following the attack.
The experience was particularly shocking for Diva Beirut, who noted the bitter irony of the situation. "This was the first time in my life that I have been attacked on the street for being gay," she stated, adding that she had performed as a drag queen in Lebanon for a decade without such an incident.
Official Response and Context
The organization behind Brussels Pride condemned the incident, calling it "an act of violence and hate." According to local news outlet Bruzz, Brussels police had not yet received a formal complaint but have extended an invitation to the victims to come forward and file a report with the force's LGBTQ+ liaison.
The assault occurred during an event that drew over 200,000 people to the Belgian capital. The theme for this year's Pride was "When times get darker, we shine brighter," a direct acknowledgment of the increase in reported discrimination and violence targeting the community. This attack serves as a stark and painful reminder of the realities that prompted such a theme.
