The Pride of Antwerp

Advocate.com hits the gay-friendly streets of Antwerp with openly gay police commissioner Serge Muyters.

By LoAnn Halden

Even in a country as progressive as Belgium, where same-sex marriage and adoption by gays have been on the books since 2003 and 2006 respectively, Serge Muyters snagged headlines when he came out six years ago. It's not every day that a high-ranking police commissioner discusses his sexual orientation on the record and then proceeds to marry his partner -- a fellow member of the Antwerp Police Department.

Although Muyters decided to step out of the media spotlight five years ago, he agreed to make a rare interview exception for Advocate.com. As the summer travel season heats up, the first deputy chief commissioner spoke about being out on the job and the city he calls home.

Advocate.com: Belgium has some of the most progressive laws for LGBT people in Europe. Are there any areas that still need work?
Serge Muyters: Antwerp is very open-minded to all visitors and inhabitants, and the city council supports many diversity programs. In 2013, Antwerp will organize the World Outgames. The only thing that concerns me is that recent research found that one out of 20 gay men is HIV-positive and that young people have a lot of unsafe sex. Due to successful treatment with antiretrovirals, people don't talk anymore about HIV and AIDS. I think it is necessary that Belgium put HIV and AIDS back on the agenda and convince people to practice safe sex.

Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter. 1 2 3 NEXT Page 1 of 3

READ COMMENTS (8) MORE Global Gayborhood EMAIL PRINT

RECOMMEND

‹‹Previous Article in Category | Next Article in Category››

Reader Comments

Back to top
Name: Ronny
Date posted: 7/7/2009 7:53:00 PM
Hometown: Bruges/Brugge

Comment:
Good on you, Mike!! Actually, there was a small controversy in the media here again lately, the issue being if famous soccer players should come out of the closet.. . The general idea was : not done.. certainly not in first league..!! So, even over here, certain people's status don't allow them to being gay in the open.. We may hope that one day, we all be regarded equally, but as long as social status and especially religions (the opium to the people Karl Marx said) rule over common sense, there's little hope for improvement, I think. So I'm doomed... but I've no ambitions to spend my after life with 77 virgins... nor to eternally be sitting at the right hand of God anyway (doing WHAT exactly?), so see if I care ? People like Mr Serge Muyters beat the system and it's prejudices (CHAPEAU, SIR !!)
Back to top
Name: Me
Date posted: 7/5/2009 3:00:00 PM
Hometown: USA

Comment:
Unlike the rest of the world, America is descending into savagery day by day. Didn't anybody hear the news? Rick Warren just said that the Christians and the Mohammedans need to find a commond ground and cooperate. It's code for "teach us how to hang the homos". Let's face it, there's really nothing common between Christianity and Mohammedanism, other than the rabid hatred for gay people (and the diabolical desire to subjugate the rest of the world.) Ever since the day Americans elected that closeted bigot Osama to rule this land, I know America is toast.
Back to top
Name: Mike
Date posted: 7/4/2009 11:20:00 PM
Hometown: Midwest

Comment:
I am a police chief of a small midwest community. When the Military changes the dont ask dont tell rule and opens up the window for gays to come out, I probably will also come out. I think if they can accept the Army, Naby and Marines to be ok, Police will also start coming out. At least I hope so... this story gives me hope..
Back to top
Name: Ronny
Date posted: 7/2/2009 9:25:00 PM
Hometown: Bruges, Belgium

Comment:
I'm the long time Belgian friend of Scott and Robert, so I can only confirm his comments here. It's sad to learn that conservatism still reigns in the great U.S., but if our 'little' gay community over here managed to overrule this, how can millions of gays over there remain ignored ? It just takes a few good men in the right places, or am I being naieve here ? It now may seem simple and a non issue over here, but it wasn't exactly handed over to us on a silver plate either..
Back to top
Name: Scott
Date posted: 7/2/2009 9:42:00 AM
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Comment:
Our friends in Belgium can not understand what the issue is in America with same sex couples not being allowed to register as partners, allowed the same legal protections & responsibilities as other couples. And now with the birth of our son - the second parent not being allowed to adopt our child. All of this and they thought America was the great land of freedom & democracy. They asked if the history books in Belgium should be re-written? Be thankful that you live in Belgium, you are better off than we are in the "great land of freedom & democracy"...
Back to top
Name: Diederick
Date posted: 7/2/2009 4:23:00 AM
Hometown: Groningen, the Netherlands

Comment:
So the Belgians are now a step ahead of the Dutch? Good for them, we'll just try to keep up.
Back to top
Name: Javier
Date posted: 7/1/2009 10:03:00 PM
Hometown: Houston

Comment:
I so happy for Serge and Karl. You two are doing great things.
Back to top
Name: Jean
Date posted: 7/1/2009 8:41:00 PM
Hometown: Hong Kong

Comment:
That's the way things should be: A non-issue ! The tone of his answers is simply mainstream reflecting a "so what?" attitude. But then, though being a very small country, Belgium is just very progressive. Take note America!

PREVIOUS 1 NEXT

More Online Only

Film Teen Spirit

While Native American cultures have long honored people of integrated genders, a new documentary looks at a shocking hate crime against a two-gendered Colorado teenager.

Politicians L.A. Confidential

What's it like to be 33, gay, and one of the most powerful people in America's second-largest city? Stressful, says Matt Szabo, the new deputy chief of staff to Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Commentary Love Bites for Twilight's Gay Fans

Gay fanpires are sure to flock to New Moon, but with questions lingering about author Stephanie Meyer and the cash she gives to the Mormon Church, Mike Albo wonders if we'd be better off tying a clove of garlic around our necks.

Youth Church Opens Doors for Homeless Gay Teens

A church-turned-shelter for homeless youth in Queens, New York is a far cry from sleeping on the streets after a $200,000 renovation and a partnership with the Ali Forney Center for LGBT youth.

Music France's Latest Export

He's opened for Britney and Katy Perry, kept Dita Von Teese company in the front row at Paris Fashion Week, and gets name-checked on Twitter by Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Sarah Silverman. So who the hell is Sliimy, anyway?

Prevention New Breast Health Rules Leave Out Lesbians

Now that new government guidelines are out on how to best care for your breasts, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender women are left with a lot of questions.

Marriage Equality Triumph in the Tar Heel State

The loss of marriage equality in Maine was a major blow on Election Night, but down the coast in North Carolina there was an LGBT victory. Pam Spaulding talks to Chapel Hill's mayor-elect, Mark Kleinschmidt.

Theater Puppet Masters

When performance-art drag diva Joey Arias combines forces with master puppeteer Basil Twist, anything — no, seriously, anything — can happen.

News Softball With Oprah and Palin

Dave White recaps as Oprah plays nice with Palin in her exclusive, personality-rehabbing interview. Topics include Katie Couric ("badgering"), Levi Johnston ("Ricky Hollywood"), and step class ("gee, it's fun").

News View From Washington: Frank Tells

This week Congressman Barney Frank laid out a plan and a timetable for repealing "don't ask, don't tell..." and a reminder that he's been saying it would happen in 2010 from the beginning.

News Features Where's Mitrice?

Mitrice Richardson is a 4.0 student, a former beauty pageant contestant, and a lesbian. She’s also been missing since September, and her family and girlfriend want answers.

Theater Seat Filler

The Advocate’s queen on the New York theater scene meets bisexual conjoined twins, pits Sienna Miller against Jude Law, tastes Cheyenne Jackson’s Rainbow, and saves up for a rainy day with Hugh Jackman.

Art Fairey Good

Controversial artist Shepard Fairey spends his creative capital to bring marriage equality back to California.

Books Hot Sheet: Brüno, Ms. Jackson, and 2012

We'll let you decide whether 2012 is spectacular, Armageddon-tinged eye candy or a hot mess. Plus: A new take on gay romance with Dare.

Television Driving Miss Wanda

Love her or loathe her, drag queen Porsche sidekicks The Wanda Sykes Show into shape.

Film Crazy Like a Fox

Hipster actor Jason Schwartzman gets schooled on his gay fans and the Hollywood closet and reveals why he’s never played a gay role.

Television Viki Victorious?

Soap icon and six-time Emmy Award winner Erika Slezak talks about the trials and tribulation of playing Victoria Lord and her run for mayor, gay rights, and the sudden death that rocks Llanview.

Commentary Called to Serve

The military continues to operate under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which even the Pentagon says is unsubstantiated. As General McChrystal asks for more troops in Afghanistan, one gay Navy vet offers his service to his country in spite of the policy that would deny him.

News Features Marriage Foe Tied to Pro-Gay Companies
Ford Motor Co. and Reynolds American, two companies that receive consistently high marks from the HRC, have ties with Schubert Flint Public Affairs, the firm that was instrumental in defeating marriage equality in California and Maine.

News Features A Few Good Men

In honor of Veteran's Day, two of the most famous gay vets -- Frank Kameny and Dan Choi -- share their letters from Uncle Sam.