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Carte blanche – Homophobic violence – For a single point of contact!

published on 16 April 2025

O’Yes UTOPIA_BXL Belgium Bear Pride Entre Gays Belgique Rainbow Friends Aide Info Sida Brussels Gay Sports Liminal Communauté du Christ Libérateur Ex Aequo Genres Pluriels Merhaba UTSOPI

• Health and well-being

Trial of Alleged Perpetrators of Homophobic Entrapments: Ex Aequo Warns of the Persistence of Anti-LGBTQIA+ Violence and the Urgent Need for Stronger Victim Support

On April 16, the trial of several individuals accused of homophobic assaults will begin in Brussels. On this occasion, Ex Aequo wishes to emphasize that LGBTQIA+ people in Belgium still face, far too often, acts of hatred, violence, and discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

These assaults are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader and more alarming reality: the normalization of anti-LGBTQIA+ hate and a climate that, despite legal progress, remains marked by fear and insecurity for many. In everyday life—whether in public spaces, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, or even within their own families—LGBTQIA+ people are still too often the targets of scornful looks, hurtful remarks, intimidation, or physical violence.

It’s true that anti-homophobia campaigns are emerging. However, it remains profoundly discouraging—and alarming—to see, for example, that some public authorities still refuse to publicly show support for LGBTQIA+ communities. This was again the case on May 17, 2024, during the International Day Against LGBTQIA+phobia—a highly symbolic moment when Walloon municipalities are invited to raise the rainbow flag. This refusal, far from trivial, sends a signal of exclusion and subtly fuels the discrimination we strive to fight.

Targeted, Premeditated, and Tragic Assaults

Last summer in Brussels, a series of homophobic entrapments deeply shocked the LGBTQIA+ community. The attackers used the dating app Grindr to lure victims into fake meetings, solely to humiliate, rob, or assault them. One such attack, in August 2024, had tragic consequences: the father of a victim, who came to help his son, died from his injuries.

These acts of premeditated violence reveal a clear intent to target LGBTQIA+ people because they are seen as vulnerable and isolated. The shock and fear these events provoked are still felt within our community.

A Stark Lack of Support for Victims

Despite an increasing number of complaints, the resources available to support victims, inform them of their rights, and provide real psychological, legal, and social assistance remain critically inadequate. Too many victims are left alone, facing an undertrained police force, interminable waits for psychological care, or simply unaware of their rights.

“The anti-discrimination legal framework is not enough to make LGBTQIA+ people feel safe: the sense that the police might downplay the seriousness of incidents, the feeling that protective laws are hard to apply, that verbal or physical aggressors will go unpunished… all of this remains widespread in the community,” said Pablo Sanz Moreno, president of Ex Aequo, Health Partner for men who have sex with men.

He added: “Victims of LGBTQIA+phobic violence are still largely lost on how to proceed: who to turn to to report and be heard? Which lawyers or legal services to contact? We need to adapt existing victim support systems so LGBTQIA+ people can find the help they need, and make these services work together so a support system is clearly identifiable by the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Very Low Reporting Rates and an Urgent Need for Coordination

A 2023 study by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights raises the alarm: only 14% of people who experience homophobic violence file a police report. This number reveals a very real fear of approaching the police, fueled by negative experiences, a lack of trust in how they’ll be received, and flaws in the judicial process.

Ex Aequo advocates for the creation of a single contact point for reporting and supporting victims of LGBTQIA+phobic discrimination, harassment, or violence, directly connected to the relevant authorities (police, justice, Unia, IEFH). This model would prevent victims from having to repeat their story to multiple people—often a traumatizing experience.

A concrete solution would be to expand the mandate of Sexual Violence Care Centers (CPVS). These centers already offer centralized, professional follow-up: victims tell their story once to a specialized team, which then handles the rest (care, legal action, support). It would be highly relevant for these centers to also take charge of cases of LGBTQIA+phobic violence and discrimination.

Ex Aequo Calls for a Political Response that Matches the Urgency

We call on Belgian authorities—at the federal, regional, and provincial levels—to fully grasp the urgency of this alarming situation. It is imperative to:

• Increase funding for associations that support LGBTQIA+ victims;

• Develop safe, inclusive, and accessible support services across the country (such as the CPVS model);

• Systematically train frontline professionals (police, justice, healthcare, social services) in how to receive victims of homophobic and transphobic violence;

• Launch continuous educational and awareness campaigns against LGBTQIA+phobia.

A Matter of Justice, but Also of Memory and Vigilance

This April 16 trial is an important moment to deliver justice to the victims. But it must also serve as a reminder that behind every case that reaches court lies a far broader and silent reality—one of victims who remain unheard, too afraid to file a complaint, or invisible due to a lack of support or channels to speak out.

Ex Aequo calls for collective mobilization—from public authorities, civil society, citizens, and the media—so that this violence is no longer tolerated, minimized, or ignored. LGBTQIA+ people have a right to safety, dignity, and justice. It’s time to act.

This op-ed is co-signed by Ex Aequo and the following organizations:

RainbowHouse Brussels, Prisme, çavaria, Utsopi, O’yes, Les Grands Carmes, Utopia, Trainbow Belgium, Belgium Bearpride, Entre Gays Belgique, Rainbowfriends Belgium, Refuge Bruxelles, Aide Info Sida, BGS (Brussels Gay Sports), Liminal, la Communauté du Christ Libérateur, Genres Pluriels, Merhaba.