In a world where Pride flags wave freely in some streets and are burned in others, queer life is still a radical act of resistance — especially in places like Afghanistan. Recently, two young queer women were arrested, beaten, and face the horrifying threat of being stoned — yes, in 2025 — for simply existing. Their story is not just one of brutality, but of unimaginable courage.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan’s LGBTQIA+ community has been pushed even deeper underground. Living openly isn’t an option; survival itself becomes an act of defiance. Yet, even in this darkness, people are finding ways to speak, to love, and to resist. Queer Afghans are using encrypted apps, secret networks, and international contacts to share their stories and seek help. They are not silent. They are not invisible.
As a queer community in Brussels — where rainbow crossings colour our streets — we can’t ignore the brutal contrast. But we also shouldn’t turn away in despair. Instead, let’s turn toward solidarity. Supporting organisations that aid LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, sharing these stories, and advocating for safe migration pathways are ways to make our freedoms mean something more.
Queer joy doesn’t just bloom at Pride parades. It exists in every moment we reach out, speak up, and remember that our liberation is bound up with theirs. So, let’s keep celebrating — loudly, unapologetically — while keeping our hearts and eyes open to those still fighting to be free.
Because no matter where we are — Kabul or Brussels — we are one queer family.
You may also like
-
Cannes 2026 – Spotlight: “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma”
One of the most striking queer titles at Cannes this year came from Jane Schoenbrun
-
We’re Not Going Back: Cannes 2026 Belongs to Queer Love Stories
Cannes 2026 made one thing very clear: queer love stories are no longer stuck on
-
Sing It Queer: Brussels needs volunteers to welcome 4,000 LGBTQI+ singers
In June 2026, Brussels will host Various Voices, the big European festival of LGBTQI+ choirs,
-
Expressions Mixtes 3: Brussels gets a festival where queer stories refuse to fit in one box
Every June, Brussels quietly grows a new kind of Pride: one made of dance floors,
-
European Testing Week: turning testing into queer self‑care
If Pride is about visibility and joy, European Testing Week is about something just as vital: making