Gay rights group sues water park

2 March 2004

BRUSSELS – A Flemish gay rights group on Tuesday announced plans to sue one of Belgium’s biggest water fun parks because the complex is offering a special reduced entry price to heterosexual couples.

The group, called Homoliga, said it intended to bring the court action against the Aqualibi water park in Walloon Brabant.

The group is angry that the park recently offered a free entry to Aqualibi to anyone accompanied by a member of the opposite sex.

Homoliga said the offer was discriminatory as it clearly excluded gay couples.

“As far as we can see, this promotion seems to contravene [Belgium’s] laws against discrimination,” said Homoliga spokesman Ivo Moelans.

Moelans argues that Six Flags, the company that manages Aqualibi, is deliberately trying to attract heterosexual couples to the water park and dissuade gay people from using the facility.

Six Flags denies this accusation.

It says the promotion, which runs until the end of March, does not aim to exclude homosexual couples.

The company added that any person arriving at Aqualibi with a partner would have the right to a free entry.

Subject: Belgian news