The ‘Gaymap’ of Ostend was presented on Monday in Rebus, the rainbow house of the province of West Flanders in the presence of Mayor Johan Vande Lanotte and Alderman for Equal Opportunities Tom Germonpré. This map is part of an international concept of ‘Friends - the Gaymap’ which already exists for twenty years. Antwerp and Brussels in Belgium have had such a map for fifteen years and now also Ostend. These maps can be found in 15 European cities and in the United States. Ostend is now located between major cities such as Barcelona, Berlin, London, Madrid, New York, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Tel Aviv, ... "Ostend is the smallest metropolis of Western Europe and this is reflected here," Vande Lanotte jokes. Openness to everyone“It’s essential that nobody has to hide or be ashamed of their own nature. With this map of the city, Ostend wants to continue the tradition from openness to everyone. Because we have to keep that openness. Ostend is a free city in a free society and we can’t let anyone take that away. All kind of people have always been explicitly present in Ostend," says Vande Lanotte. “And is it still necessary to support LGBTQ people? If you see what is happening in the world every day, this is apparently still necessary," adds Germonpré. Rebus thought it was important that this map only show business that has a specific offer to LGBTQ people and business that are kept open by LGBTQ people. "It is important that everyone have the choice to be themselves and not always have to comply with the straight norm," says Sabine Roobroeck the coordinator of Rebus. The maps will be distributed regionally by the tourism department of Ostend and via the rainbow houses in Flanders. The maps will also be placed in the different boxes in the other cities that are part of the concept. Hanan Scheers I travel the world to find unexpected stories. 15 June 2016
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