A school event against ‘homophobia’ and assorted ‘phobia’ offshoots in Genk, Belgium, was violently disrupted last week.
On Thursday, May 11th, a large group of students from the trade school ‘Atlas College Techniek & Innovatie’ shouted the Muslim phrase “Allahu akbar,” (God is great), with some assaulting two city employees and a volunteer from an LGBT advocacy group, operation OGWA (Ook Genks Wel Anders), who were there to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOT), which is celebrated on May 17th.
The LGBT community celebrates that date because, on it in 1990, the World Health Organization excised homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.
However, not all among the diverse Belgian population appeared eager to join in the festivities.
As reported by Nieuwsblad, one of the assailed—kept anonymous—laid out how events unfolded that Thursday. During their yearly event, the person explained, they take to the playground during break to hand out flyers and rainbow hearts. “Not everyone always agrees with us, but yesterday the atmosphere took a grim turn. A group of young people gathered around our stand and started booing us.”
That number quickly swelled to over a hundred, after which “things got out of hand,” the individual continued. “They kept shouting, throwing bottles and spitting on the rainbow hearts.” When the bell rang, “most of the youngsters left for class and peace returned.”
The city of Genk and school authorities have voiced their disapproval of what took place and promised to take action.
“There is no place for homophobia in Genk,” its city council said. “This behavior touches me deeply, I am bewildered,” responded Alderman Anniek Nagels (CD&V). “Genk stands for a respectful society, where everyone should be able to be themselves.”
Mayor Wim Dries (CD&V) announced that the city would file a complaint and consult further with Atlas College.
The school was equally shocked by the events. “This is totally unacceptable,” said general director Christel Schepers. “This does not correspond to the warmth the school promotes. That is why we are taking action. We will engage in dialogue with the students in the coming weeks and will address this in cooperation with the city.”
In what has become customary, and despite the readily available video evidence (which Nieuwsblad provided in its article), mainstream Belgian media kept mum about the ethnic or religious profile of the assailants, as well their revealing chants (“Allahu akbar”).
The footage nonetheless went viral and was covered by multiple American alternative news outlets, while drawing commentary by prominent American conservative pundit Steve Turley, who has over 1 million subscribers to his YouTube channel.
