16/05/2024
from "De Wereld Morgen"
interview - Youna Mulock Houwer
IDAHOT: “We still hear every day that LGBTI+ people feel unsafe”
Tomorrow is May 17, International Day Against LGBT and Transphobia (IDAHOT). An important date, especially if we look at the discourse of the far right who see the LGBTI+ community as a new enemy to fight against: "If you ask for equality and equality and that everyone can be safe, it is framed as a 'woke ' point of view".
Thursday May 16, 2024 2:51 PM
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With IDAHOT in prospect, I spoke with Elio De Bolle, the General Coordinator of Casa Rosa. Casa Rosa is the East Flemish Rainbow House and functions as the umbrella organization for about twenty associations in East Flanders that are committed to LGBT and transgender people.
Elio De Bolle:
“A study by the EU and the ILGA-Europe Index was published this week, in which Belgium is in the top three European countries in terms of legislation. But on the other hand, a recent EU study shows that half of Belgian LGBTI+ people do not dare to walk hand in hand with their partner.”
“Here we see a big discrepancy between the legislation and the feeling of the LGBTI+ community itself. Although Belgium is progressive, this does not fully translate to how LGBTI+ people feel today.”
The political discourse of the right
“We still hear every day that people feel unsafe. Especially against the most marginalized groups, such as people of color, non-binary people and trans people, we feel a rising form of hatred. I think this also has to do with the political discourse.”
“When we look at the extreme right, we see that they openly and publicly say certain things that are often not factually correct, but very polarizing. As a result, they pit people against each other.”
“The discourse of the extreme right is often about all kinds of things that are taken out of context: 'non-binary people this, trans people that, there is indoctrination in education.' These are all things that are taken out of context.”
“A certain group of people goes along with this and then feels that asking for justice for everyone means that certain rights and achievements are being taken away from others.”
“The political discourse of recent years has led to a situation where it seems as if there are two camps opposing each other”
“But that has never been our plea. What we ask for is equality. If person
“When we ask for correct care for trans people and that this is done in a good way, this does not mean that someone else's medication will no longer be reimbursed.”
“The political discourse of recent years has led to a situation where it seems as if there are two camps opposing each other. For example, when advocating for non-binary people to change their gender registration, this often leads to reactions (especially online) where people feel that everyone should become non-binary. However, this is completely ridiculous and completely untrue!”
“Adjusting gender registration for non-binary people does not in any way take away the rights or achievements of others. But the far right frames it this way, as if everything will be taken away.”
The extreme right is looking for a minority, it doesn't matter which one
“I remember that until a few years ago Vlaams Belang said: 'Yes, LGBTI+ is all fine, but it is mainly the migrants who make it unsafe for LGBTI+ people.' to express other points of view.”
“Today they target trans people, with a discourse that says, 'It's because they're trans, and they're promoting this so that everyone has to become trans.' This is framed in such a marketing and technical way that it appears as the biggest truth comes forward.”
Minority as new enemy
“I feel like the far right needs a new enemy to fight against. The pity is that other center parties are also adopting this discourse. Take for example the word 'woke', which was never actually used by our movement as a call for, for example, "get woke".
“It is the parties that are now framing this and conducting an anti-woke campaign. So if you ask for equality and equality and for everyone to be safe, that is seen as a 'woke' position. You see that center parties are now taking over this.”
“The N-VA, which used to be a regular ally in the field of LGBTI+ achievements and rights in the Flemish Parliament, is now launching a book about 'everything is woke'.
and we have to be careful with that'. They are looking for something to create a popular discourse on, with popular words. People just go along with that.”
Convince people
“We see an incredibly big challenge in changing people's minds about this community. It is important to show ourselves and, as we call it, win people's hearts.”
“It's about convincing people that LGBTI+ people are just people who have certain rights and should be treated equally as everyone else. In other words, they must also have the necessary safety and be able to be fully themselves at any time and any place in our society.”
“We have launched a campaign: “Which vote do you choose?”, aimed at the local elections in October. We ask everyone, including our supporters, to think carefully and be well informed before entering the voting booth.”
“Consciously choose an equal society for everyone!”
