When Cruising Excludes: Rethinking Darkrooms at Pride

During Brussels Pride 2026, Stammbar is once again proving it is more than a cruising bar. Since its 10th anniversary, the venue has been positioning itself as a nightlife space and a place for conversation, doubt and collective reflection about the realities that shape queer lives. This year, that commitment takes the form of a new public talk organised in collaboration with Pavel, Mr Bear Belgium 2026, tackling a subject that many people feel but rarely discuss in the open: who are cruising spaces really for?

Cruising, a (cis) men’s story?

On Thursday 14 May, from 14:30 to 16:30, Stammbar hosts a conversation titled “Cruising, a (cis) men’s story?” at 114 Rue Marché au Charbon, 1000 Brussels. The starting point is simple and uncomfortable at the same time: women, allies, trans and non‑binary people are part of our communities and often at the forefront of care and support – yet they frequently find themselves excluded as soon as cruising areas and darkrooms enter the picture, whether because of explicit rules, unspoken behaviour codes or long‑standing cultural habits.

The talk invites everyone to sit with a series of sharp questions. Why are these spaces still mostly designed around cis male experiences? What impact does this exclusion have on those who are kept outside, and on the community as a whole? And how could cruising environments evolve towards more inclusive models, without ignoring the feelings, limits and fears expressed by part of the existing audience?

Stammbar, a key player in Brussels’ cruising culture

Located in the heart of the Rainbow Village, just a few steps from the Grand‑Place, Stammbar has become one of Brussels’ essential cruising and fetish addresses since opening in 2013. With its industrial design, darkroom and dedicated cruising zones, it is known as the city’s premier LGBTQIA+ cruise and fetish club, popular with bears, leather fans and their admirers.

But the bar has also, in recent years, leaned into a different dimension of queer culture: hosting talks, exhibitions and community events that question how these spaces function and whom they serve. This Pride‑season conversation fits neatly into that trajectory, showing that a sex‑positive venue can also be a place where norms are challenged and re‑imagined.

A space to question, not to prescribe

The aim of “Cruising, a (cis) men’s story?” is not to deliver ready‑made answers or a new rulebook. Instead, the organisers want to create a space for exchange around the realities, tensions and contradictions that exist inside cruising and darkroom environments. How do safety, desire, fear and exclusion intersect once the lights go down? What would it take to imagine different configurations, and who gets to decide?

The discussion is an invitation to listen, disagree, evolve and grow together. In other words, to treat queer spaces not as frozen traditions, but as living ecosystems that can and should be questioned – especially during Brussels Pride’s 30th anniversary, under the motto “When Times Get Darker, We Shine Brighter.” By opening up this conversation in the middle of Pride Week, Stammbar and Pavel are reminding everyone that community care also means looking critically at the places we love.

Practical info

• What: Talk – “Cruising, a (cis) men’s story?”
• When: Thursday 14 May, 14:30 → 16:30
• Where: Stammbar, Rue Marché au Charbon 114, 1000 Brussels
• Context: Part of Brussels Pride 2026 and Stammbar’s series of talks around queer realities

Useful links

Brussels Pride 2026 – official info

Stammbar – official website

Stammbar – about us

Stammbar – events

Stammbar on Facebook

KET Magazine is a community‑driven, non‑profit magazine run by volunteers based in Brussels. Get in touch to share your thoughts or tell us about your activities. You can also promote your events on our website or support our work with a donation. Contact us at Info@ket.brussels.