On this day 20 years ago, Belgium became the second country in the world to legalise the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Since then, more than 1,000 same-sex couples have been married in the country every year.
On 30 January 2003, Belgium became the second country in the world, after its neighbour the Netherlands, to approve same-sex marriage. On this day, the law "opening up the possibility of marriage to people of the same sex" was approved by the House of Representatives.
The first same-sex marriage that actually took place, several months later on 1 June, represented the culmination of several years of political struggle.
"Love has been winning for 20 years, every day we continue to work towards equal rights," said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. "Together we will keep fighting until everyone in our country can be themselves and love without fear. Love Wins. Always."
Now, the occasion is being celebrated in the country and has even prompted a review of the history of the Belgian LGBTQ+ community. In Brussels, the Archives and Museums of the City launched a call for donations of documents and items related to LGBTQ+ cultures in the region.
The city's historical archives go back to the Middle Ages and now holds the official records of same-sex marriages officiated in Brussels over the past two decades.
Nearly two weeks after the call was launched on 10 May, the institution received wedding invitations, photographs and wedding favours from same-sex couples, as well as calendars, information fliers and posters from LGBT events, Pride-themed bracelets and rainbow lapel pins.
Are you going to check it out? Let @Maajtee know.
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