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Press release : Molenbeek Saint-Jean. No place for discrimination against trans people in political discourse

published on 28 January 2025

No place for discrimination against trans people in political discourse

The LGBTQIA+ federation RainbowHouse Brussels strongly condemns the recent statements made by Rachid Ben Salah (PS-Vooruit), a municipal councilor in Molenbeek: “I understand, we would like to have more women, but the legal framework has been restored (and respected). We don’t have a trans person here, that would have worked!” This remark, made in response to a question about gender parity within the College, is unacceptable and reflects a blatant lack of respect.

A simple apology is not enough to mask a political climate in which trans people are excluded and reduced to tools for argumentation. According to the latest data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), 57% of Belgian transgender people reported feeling discriminated against in the past 12 months due to their gender identity. Moreover, about 10% of the complaints received by the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men relate to transgender discrimination.

RainbowHouse Brussels invites Rachid Ben Salah to engage in a discussion and attend training to better understand the experiences and realities of trans people.

We demand that all Brussels assemblies put an end to transphobic, discriminatory, and hateful discourse. We encourage each municipal council to enforce the law and apply sanctions in cases of violations. Finally, at the start of this legislative session, we call on colleges and municipal councils to adopt concrete measures, such as drafting a charter explicitly prohibiting discriminatory and hateful remarks.

Press contact :

NL: Frank Schellings +32 478 54 48 53
FR: Xavier Wyns +32 471 93 52 69