Gay Fair Fiasco


Any thoughts of a "united" Europe were firmly scotched at the recent Belgian Gay Fair
(Antwerp, 22 & 23 of April) as police refused to allow some parts of the programme to go
ahead as planned.
The Dutch organisers had asked Amsterdam-based Mr.B leather, Rubber and toyshop, to
put on a repeat perfor,ance of the sex-show that had previously been presented at the
succesfull Dutch Gay Fairs in Hilversum. Under Belgian law, copies of the script had to
be submitted to the Belgian vice squad for approval. Mr. B.'s first scenario, based on the
dracula story was rejected because it called for the use of fake stage blood. A second
script was rejected because candle wax was to be dripped onto the bare skin of the actors
causing, accoding to Belgian police, "permanent scarring". Various re-writes followed,
each being rejected for a variety of petty reasons. Eventually a modified version of the
second (wax) show went ahead with one cast-member catching the offending was in box-
lids marked "CENSORED". Even this improvisation was not enough to pacify the eight-
strong policeteam present, who insisted on yet further changes. They also turned their
attention to the Safe-Sex promotion team at the Fair, who were forbidden to present an
educational video showing how a condom should be rolled over an erect penis. Finally,
police agreed the video could be shown if the TV-set were turned on its side (?) and the
display restricted to over-18's- thus excluding the very people who need such information
most. Camera crews from Belgian national TV were soon on the scene to cover unfolding
events. A "seething" Wim Bos, director of Mr.B, made an impassioned speech before the
evening's second show in which he asked how on earth it is possible that what is conside-
red perfectly normal in Holland should be found such a problem a few mils up the road in
Belgium. He received a standing ovation, as did the unintentionally tame and sometimes
ludicrous Mr.B show.

(This article first appeared in "Out on the Streets", based in Amsterdam on may 9th 1995,
and was submitted to internet with permission from the editor. For more information email berts@xs4all.nl)

Love from Holland,

Bert Schuur