It seems like every time we read the news LGBTQ+ rights are under attack someplace. Yet, we always hear wonderful stories from queer people about how amazing the country, state, city, town, neighborhood, or cabin in the woods where they live really is.
This year’s IHS reading challenge will focus on books set in different parts of the world. We think it’s vital to show that sapphic people not only exist but are everywhere.
We also want to hear from authors and readers about where they live. If you’d like to share your experiences, click here for the interview form.
Today, Lizz is here to tell us about Belgium.
Where in the world will you be taking us today?
Belgium
Tell us in one sentence what’s so special about living in this place.
Nobody can understand how our country is ruled, even us sometimes, although we’re used to it by now.
How long have you lived there? Or, if you no longer live in this place, how long were you there and when did you leave?
All my life, going 50 years now.
What is/was it like being a sapphic (or LGBTQ+) person living in this place?
We were one of the first countries to accept gay marriage, we were quite liberal until recent right winged wave throughout the world and sadly enough also because of rather radical Muslim influences.
What about living in this place gives you hope?
Our youth, we had climate protest marches some years ago. I hope they can uphold their ideals and ideas. Is their world to inherit!
Are there any challenges to living in this place, either as a queer person or more generally?
Even I wouldn’t dare to walk hand in hand with my partner in certain cities, areas, that has changed, even more so for men, but women are equally looked upon by certain ‘youth’ groups.
For someone who has never been there, what’s the one thing that they must see or do if visiting your area?
They all say Bruges probably, or ‘manneke pis’, just kidding, I’m from Limburg and we have beautifully restored cultural heritage from our mining years, and to top it off, beautiful forests and bike lanes, we are the green long of Belgium (maybe Flanders, we do have the Ardennes).
What’s the one type of regional food and/or drink they absolutely must try?
Chocolates, sprouts, waffles, I would go for mussels and fries, take a pick for any beer if that’s your fancy, even a growing variety off 0%. We do have great restaurants and bistro’s though, you can hardly go wrong anywhere.
Do you have a favorite local restaurant? What makes it special?
I’ll go for recent then, less hassle, I’d go for TruckStop 25bis, price/quality for the food, large menu to pick from, great staff, and the people who come there are very eclectic, and yes, that goes for the international truck drivers as well as for the locals!
Meet Lizz
Well, I’m in the military, I used to play football (I wish I was born in this day and age, always dreamed of playing professional), still quite sporty, comes with the job I recon, or why I chose the job, not sure which one. Favourite books topics are therefore easy enough to guess? Did some weird studies when I was younger, something religion and then anthropology, people used to ask if I was learning to become a non, go figure! Since I found out about your IHS, I never had not a day since that I have not read. Cat person, although our 2 dogs are lovely enough as they are, it’s not the same as my dashing longhaired black king with those enchanting yellow eyes. He comes even before my partner from going 14 years, but never tell her that!
