About Het Roze Huis
Het Roze Huis has its roots in the successful Pink Saturday that took place in Antwerp (Belgium) in 1994. At the initiative of future chair Denis Bouwen, a group got together and brainstormed about a new, permanent, and visible LGBT+ project. A survey among the Antwerp associations pointed to the need for an area for meetings and activities. In 1995, the non-profit organisation Het Roze Huis was founded by some volunteers and 10 LGB associations based in the city.
26 years later, Het Roze Huis continues to represent the interests of the rainbow community in the province of Antwerp. We conduct campaigns, organise courses, and provide advice to combat pigeonholing and help create equal opportunities for everyone. We make sure the rights of our grass-roots supporters are maintained and broadened.
As an umbrella organisation, we support the work of provincial associations on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Through a policy of encounters, exchange, and cooperation, we promote the visibility of our target group and the well-being and position of the people in our community.
We care about the following elements:
We’re passionate about what we do. Our staff, volunteers, and supporters are committed to making a positive contribution to the lives of others
We don’t pigeonhole people. We’re on the side of all those working in favour of equal opportunities and who respect everyone’s individuality. We actively seek out partnerships; our door is always open.
We believe different perspectives enrich the world. We strive to welcome and give a voice to diversity both within and beyond our community.
What we do and how we conduct ourselves are characterised by respect for everyone’s individuality and personal integrity. We treat each other with respect and fairness.
Volunteering stimulates encounters, connections, and participation. We believe that volunteering helps people grow.
Board of directors
The board of directors meets each month, and is authorised to set out the policy and day-to-day operation of Het Roze Huis – çavaria Antwerp
Steve Vermaelen
Chair + spokesperson (available for the press in evenings and weekends: +32 498 44 45 71)
I'm Steve, and I was born in East Berlin just before the Wall came down. I can't remember life there, but my parents often talk about it. 'Freedom' was just a word. You were only free in your thoughts. I've now been living in Antwerp for 12 years, where I can reap the benefits of the struggle for equal rights that the generation before us waged. It looks like these rights have been achieved here, but that's not the case everywhere in the world, not even in Europe. "The line of progress is never straight", and we too must remain vigilant for LGBTQI+ acceptance. I've committed myself to this through Het Roze Huis in various ways, including taking care of communication. The idea is that everyone can find their way to Het Roze Huis and live their life to the fullest.
My name's Inge Wallaert, and I'm co-founder of Het Roze Huis and the limited liability cooperative Den Draak. After a break (due to my international commitments as co-secretary of ILGA World among other things), I re-joined the board of HRH, and became very active as a volunteer in various working groups. My specific task on the board is to represent the non-profit organisation where necessary.
Active since 1999, the last 10 years as secretary. Diversity, in the broadest sense of the word, is my greatest motivation. We and our beloved predecessors have achieved a lot in the field of LGBT+ rights, which is something we can be proud of. You sometimes hear people saying: "Ah, those gays, they've got everything now, haven't they?" There exist those who are increasingly active in their calls to make us return to our places as inferior citizens. History and current events teach us that we have to remain vigilant!
Citizen of Limburg, citizen of the world, ... and now an 'Antwerp resident' for quite some time. Avid swimmer, as well as honorary director and chair, at the non-profit organisation Active Company. One of the founders of the non-profit organisations Antwerp Pride and World Outgames in Antwerp. Professionally active as a policy officer at the Department of Culture, Youth and Media. An avid 'supporter of Het Roze Huis', because I want to give something back to the community that offered me safe and warm surroundings a long time ago, when I was new to Antwerp. Thanks to the collective activities, I'm a happier person. I want to share this with all those who have a place in their heart for Het Roze Huis.
I've been involved with Het Roze Huis for two decades. Over the years, I've alternated between being a member and not being a member of the board of directors and concentrated my efforts on two different areas: the relationship between the associations and the umbrella function, and human resources. I've also been active for a number of years on the board of directors of çavaria, and always chair of the VREAK theatre, which performs plays about gender diversity. I think that it's meaningful to continue to commit myself to Het Roze Huis, because it's important that the subjects we hold dear are always sufficiently visible, and I'm a great believer in the social safety net that Het Roze Huis provides.
Onze vrijwilligers
Het Roze Huis – çavaria Antwerp is completely dependent on the kindness and commitment of its volunteers. These volunteers are responsible for every conceivable task, from building maintenance to political lobbying.
Partners
