History of Prides in Liège

Since the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots in 1969 in New York, marching in the streets to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ lifestyles and win equal rights has become one of our most important modes of expression. Over time, these events have become opportunities to celebrate diversity and combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender. Little by little, an agenda of political demands took hold in the messages of what we now call Pride. A parade, concerts and fun activities, combined with political demands: this is what we can see blossoming all over Europe and the world between May and September.

In Belgium, the first Pride took place on May 5, 1979 in Antwerp and was called Roze Zaterdag. In the years that followed, further editions were organized in Ghent and Brussels. From 1996 onwards, the parade took place every year in Brussels, and in 1998 was renamed Lesbian & Gay Pride. Until 2003, the demand was mainly for access to marriage for same-sex couples, access to medically-assisted procreation for female couples and adoption. In 2008, Antwerp organized its first regional Pride. Today, Antwerp Pride and Brussels Pride each boast some 120,000 participants.

In Wallonia, there have been and continue to be numerous initiatives in the public arena: in Charleroi (Fête de l’amour), Namur (Fiertés namuroises), Verviers (Fiertés verviétoises), Mons (City Pride), Saint-Vith (CSD), Liège (Gay Street, La plus petite Pride du monde and the Pride statique de la Transpédégouine), but no Pride Parade like in Brussels or Antwerp has ever been organized.

Liège Pride was born of a desire to strengthen and support this wealth of activism. Liège will be the first Walloon city to host such an event. We want it to showcase the city’s friendly, inclusive and caring character. We want this to be a resolutely positive event in which everyone has a place!

In agreement with the City of Liège, the dates of August 23-24-25, 2024 have been set. These dates will make Liège Pride the last Pride of the season in our regions!