An alleged assault on three performers following Brussels Pride has sparked condemnation from organisers and renewed concerns about safety for LGBTQ+ people, even during high‑profile public celebrations.
The incident came to light on Sunday after Lebanese drag artist Diva Beirut described being attacked alongside fellow artists Sherine Falasteen and Anira Orlando after leaving the Pride event on Saturday afternoon.
According to Diva Beirut, the group had finished performing and were making their way back to their car in the city centre when they were confronted by a group of teenagers.
In a post shared on social media, the artist said the attackers were “around fourteen years old” and described being knocked to the ground, struck and verbally abused. A bicycle was also reportedly thrown during the assault.
Reflecting on the incident, Diva Beirut said it challenged assumptions about where LGBTQ+ people face danger. The artist wrote that violence and hostility can occur “anywhere in the world”, not only in countries often perceived as unsafe.
Belgian news outlet Bruzz reported that Brussels police had not received a formal complaint at the time the incident was publicised. Authorities have since invited the artists to make an official report.
Brussels Pride organisers issued a statement condemning the alleged attack, stressing that visibility should never come at the cost of personal safety.
“No one should be afraid because of who they are, who they love, or how they express themselves,” the organisers said, adding that the incident underlined the continued importance of Pride events.
They said they stood “in full solidarity” with the performers and the wider queer community, insisting there was “no place for hate” in the city.
The reported attack has added to wider conversations across Europe about rising hostility towards LGBTQ+ people, even in cities long regarded as safe and inclusive, and about the ongoing need for protection alongside celebration.
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