LEUVEN PRIDE HUB

📅 Wednesday, April 29
🕗 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM (welcome from 7:30 PM)
🎟️ Free and open to everyone (registration required) 

💬 This event will be moderated in Dutch.

📍 KU Leuven – Justus Lipsiuszaal
(Erasmus Building, Faculty of Arts – 8th floor) 

Online hate against LGBTQI people is not an abstract problem. In Leuven too, we see how hateful reactions on social media—such as responses to posts about Leuven Pride—can quickly escalate and contribute to a sense of insecurity.

• Who and what is behind this hate?
• How does it affect public debate and everyday life?
• And most importantly: what actually works in dealing with it?

During this public debate evening, experts, media professionals, and students will share their insights on online hate speech and digital safety. Come listen, join the conversation, and think along about how we can make online spaces safer. 

We start from concrete online cases of hate speech and explore practical solutions:

• what research tells us about online hate and troll networks
• the impact hate speech has on LGBTQI people
• how media handle the moderation of comments
• what citizens, organizations, and local authorities can concretely do

The evening will consist of expert insights, a panel discussion, and interaction with the audience.

🎤 Moderator: Tom De Cock (radio host at JOE)

🎓 With prof. Alexander Dhoest (University of Antwerp), Youssra Bouydiri (Head of Online Moderation at VRT ), Paul Borghs (Unia), Vix Willems (Diversity Officer at LOKO).

The event is part of the "Together Safe – Online and in the Streets" programme leading up to Leuven Pride 2026. 

More information on accessibility and how to reach the venue:
KU Leuven – Justus Lipsiuszaal (Erasmus Building, Faculty of Arts – 8th floor)
Blijde-Inkomststraat 21, 3000 Leuven