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  • Hungary eases adoption rules for gays and lesbians

    Marc Dirix

    Hungary plans to make it easier again for same sex couples to adopt children. Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced the move on Saturday on the sidelines of a press conference where he presented a report on child protection in Hungary.

    Until 2020, both married couples and single people were allowed to adopt in Hungary. Because two men or two women cannot marry in Hungary, same sex couples could not adopt jointly. There was, however, a way around this restriction: one partner could legally adopt a child as a single person. In practice, this meant that gay men and lesbians could become adoptive parents.

    Viktor Orbán's government changed the system at the end of 2020. Since 1 March 2021, the general rule has been that a child is adopted by a married couple. Since marriage in Hungary is only open to a man and a woman, this automatically excludes joint adoption by same sex couples. Single people cannot simply adopt either. An exception currently exists, but they need special permission from the minister responsible for family policy. This means that the decision is not made exclusively by professional adoption services.

    Last Saturday, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that the changes introduced by Orbán would be reversed. According to Reuters, Magyar said that adoption decisions should once again be made by professionals rather than politicians. 

    According to Magyar, the rules should be changed because it should be up to professionals, rather than a minister, to assess whether the conditions and support a particular child needs in order to grow up happy and well balanced can be provided.

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  • Our Safe Spaces Are Under Threat. Also Because of Us.

    Marc Dirix

    Dear community,

    What I'm about to say probably won't make me popular with everyone, but it needs to be said.

    Our community, especially our clubs, bars and other safe spaces, is under threat. During Pride and festival season, it's impossible to ignore the growing problem of excessive drug use. The rapid rise of GHB is putting some of the few places where LGBTQIA+ people can truly feel safe at risk.

    I've been part of the queer and kink community for many years, and I've seen more and more people turn to drugs during chemsex parties or simply to lower their inhibitions. Drug use has always existed in our community for many different reasons, including self expression and self discovery.

    Some people practice harm reduction. They know what they're taking, understand dosages, have a trusted buddy looking after them and take responsibility if something goes wrong.

    But an increasing number of people are no longer taking GHB or other drugs to step over a small hurdle. They're jumping off a skyscraper.

    Over the past few weeks, several close friends and I have repeatedly had to help people suffering overdoses in queer venues. Each time it involved dangerous combinations of GHB, other drugs, poppers and alcohol, consumed without any awareness of personal limits.

    When you mix multiple substances, one plus one plus one doesn't equal three. It multiplies the risks dramatically. Eventually you lose all control, placing not only yourself at risk but also your friends, venue staff and everyone else who suddenly becomes responsible for your safety.

    And if, after recovering, you blame your friends for your overdose instead of accepting responsibility, it's time to recognize that professional help is needed.

    Venue owners also have an important role to play. Many display posters warning about GHB, yet too often those policies are not enforced. As long as drug use remains out of sight, it is tolerated. That tolerance allows the problem to grow.

    Club owners should be willing to temporarily ban people who repeatedly endanger themselves and others. Losing a handful of customers is far less damaging than losing a venue's reputation or facing closure after a serious incident.

    Our community faces attacks from outside, but we also face challenges from within.

    Let's take responsibility. Stay informed, reduce risks, look after each other and protect the spaces that allow us to be ourselves.

    I hope we can continue enjoying our clubs, festivals and Pride events for many years to come. That will only happen if we all work together to protect them.

    Have a safe and enjoyable Pride and festival season.

    Marc Dirix

    Publisher Gaylive

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  • Brussels welcomes 4,000 LGBTQI+ singers for Various Voices

    Marc Dirix

    Brussels will be flooded over the coming days by no fewer than 120 LGBTQI+ choirs and 4,000 singers from 18 countries. They will take part in 350 concerts scheduled as part of the Various Voices choir festival.

    Founded in Cologne in 1985, the festival has grown into a leading European event for the LGBTQI+ choral community. The 2026 edition is organised by the non-profit organisation Various Voices Brussels 2026, an initiative of the Brussels-based choir Sing Out Brussels!

    From Wednesday to Saturday, more than 350 concerts will take place at venues including Bozar, La Madeleine, the Royal Circus and the ING Arena. Performances will also be held in public spaces such as the City Hall, the Vaux Hall and Brussels Park. The festival showcases artists from the Brussels, Belgian and wider European queer communities.

    Each day, the festival presents a major show bringing together different choirs and artists around a common theme under the artistic direction of Simon Paco.

    "These shows take us on a journey through the history of our LGBTQI+ community, celebrating its culture and defending its interests," explains artistic director Simon Paco. "The programme highlights the diversity of identities, the diversity of artistic practices and the diversity of life journeys. It also reflects the European dimension of the festival."

    The detailed festival programme is available at https://various-voices.be/. Visitors can also find a presentation of each participating choir on the website.

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  • Conversion therapy now punishable in the Netherlands

    Marc Dirix

    The Dutch Senate on Tuesday approved a ban on conversion therapy. The new law prohibits treatments that claim to "cure" a person of their sexual orientation or gender identity. COC Netherlands welcomed the decision and described it as a victory for survivors.

    "At last, justice for victims who often suffer the consequences of conversion practices for the rest of their lives," said COC chair Myrtille Danse following the Senate's decision. "At last, a clear message: 'being cured' is a myth, you are fine the way you are, and attempts to 'cure' people are now prohibited and punishable."

    The bill was introduced by D66, VVD, PvdA, SP and the Party for the Animals. According to the parties, so-called conversion therapies cause serious harm. The lawmakers point to scientific research linking such practices to depression, mental health problems, social difficulties and, in some cases, suicide attempts.

    The new law bans attempts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of children and vulnerable adults. Violations can result in prison sentences of up to two years, and practitioners may be barred from their profession. Advertising for conversion practices will also be prohibited.

    Conversion practices do not change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, but they can cause severe harm. Research shows they may lead to lifelong trauma, depression and suicidal thoughts.

    Dutch LGBTQ+ advocacy group COC has campaigned for a ban on conversion practices for around fifteen years. "Your entire identity is broken down. That trauma never goes away," said Jacques Zonne, describing the impact of conversion practices. He was confined for two years in an attempt to "cure" his homosexuality and gathered 8,000 signatures in support of a ban.

    There are still at least fifteen providers of conversion practices operating in the Netherlands. Thousands of people are affected by them. These practices range from "therapies", holiday camps, seminars and workshops to faith healing and exorcisms.

    Conversion practices are already banned in Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta and Cyprus. Human rights bodies, from the United Nations to the Council of Europe, have called on countries to outlaw conversion practices. The European Commission has also urged governments to introduce such bans.

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