The 2026 edition is behind us · thank you

Our
annual
BBQ

Last edition
Sunday
6 September 2026
Proceeds to
Three projects
€4,500 in total
Where
Koetshuis
Wippelgem Castle Estate
See the retrospective Save the date: Queer Belgian Art

The event

Since 2012 we've been bringing people together around one table.

On Sunday 6 September 2026 our annual charity BBQ took place in the welcoming Koetshuis of the Wippelgem Castle Estate. It was a full house and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

A warm afternoon for members, friends and supporters - a day of eating, meeting and standing together. Proceeds go to direct and indirect LGBTQ+ projects.

Date
Sunday 6 September 2026
Time
12:30 - 18:00
Location
Koetshuis, Wippelgem Castle Estate ↗
Afterwards
More than 160 participants
Retrospective & thanks →

Monthly

Our monthly cooking club.

Beyond the annual BBQ, STR8FW brings people together every month around pots and pans.

An accessible moment to cook and dine together - open to members, friends and supporters.

Str8-to-Dinner

First Wednesday of the month · LDC De Horizon, Ghent

A three-course menu, shared in an open and respectful atmosphere. No starred-chef pretensions, just plenty of enthusiasm to meet over a good plate.

Drinks available at democratic prices. Places limited to 30 people - so it pays to register in time.

Sessions take place every first Wednesday of the month, except in July and August. The New Year edition moves to the second Wednesday of January.

When
First Wednesday
of the month · 18:00
Where
LDC De Horizon
Ferdinand Lousbergkaai 12, Ghent
Price
€20 pp
(drinks separate)
Places
Limited to
30 people
Register & WhatsApp. Register in advance by transferring to BE51 0689 4311 5162 (reference: STR8-2-DINNER + number of people + name + date). For recipes, last-minute updates and casual chat there's also a WhatsApp group - send a message to Koen (+32 477 77 12 79) with your name.

Who we are

STR8FW VZW - for LGBTQ+ inclusion and solidarity.

STRAIGHT FORWARD (STR8FW VZW) is committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion and social justice.

We support direct and indirect projects against discrimination and for tolerance and equality. We allocate our resources evenly: roughly half goes to direct support for people or organisations in need, the other half to community building and awareness.

The name says it all: STR8FW stands for Straight Forward - direct and to the point, with a wink. Our association brings together LGBTQ+ people and their straight supporters; sympathisers are as welcome here as members of the community itself. Inclusion works both ways. And the arrows in our logo say the rest: for equality, for connection, for everyone - straight forward.

The freedom to be yourself as an LGBTQ+ person is an absolute fundamental right. Diversity is without a doubt an asset to a free and open society.

Active since 2012VZW since 14 May 2014Based in Ghent

Beneficiaries

Who do we support?

The proceeds of our events and your donations go to organisations that work every day for a safer, more inclusive and fairer society - for LGBTQ+ people and beyond.

A selection of organisations we've helped support in recent years:

€2,500
MSK Ghent

Queer Belgian Art 1400-1950: five centuries of art from our regions through an LGBTQ+ lens.

2027 Save the date →
€500
Chasing the Rainbow

Independent LGBTQ+ magazine for the Benelux - supported again with the proceeds of the 2026 BBQ.

2026chasingtherainbowmag.eu ↗
€1,500
LGBT-Studentenclub Acantha

LGBTQ+ student association in Ghent.

2026acantha.be ↗
€500
Chasing the Rainbow

Independent LGBTQ+ magazine for the Benelux - our first support for Len Buggenhout's project.

2025chasingtherainbowmag.eu ↗
€1,500
Regenbooghuis Aan Zee

LGBTQ+ community house on the Flemish coast.

2025regenbooghuisaanzee.be ↗
€2,500
Rainbow Friends

LGBTQ+ friendship association at RainbowHouse Brussels.

2025rainbowhouse.be ↗
€3,000
School Zonder Pesten vzw

Fights bullying in schools and builds safe school environments.

2024schoolzonderpesten.be ↗
€2,500
Stichting Pelicano

Supports children living in poverty in Belgium.

2024pelicano.be ↗
A cross-section of who we helped make possible
MSK Ghent Chasing the Rainbow Acantha Regenbooghuis Aan Zee Rainbow Friends School Zonder Pesten Stichting Pelicano Rainbow Ambassadors Toontje vzw

Since 2012

More than a decade moving forward together.

From the very first New Year's event under the Ghent City Pavilion to today's Str8-to-Dinner - STR8FW has been building an open network and tangible support for those who need it for more than twelve years.

  1. 2012

    Founded as an informal association. First New Year event under the Ghent City Pavilion. Fundraising drive at Brussels Pride.

  2. 2013

    First Charity BBQ in Wippelgem. A tradition was born. Second New Year event under the Ghent City Pavilion.

  3. 2014

    Became a VZW (non-profit) on 14 May 2014. BBQ edition in Wippelgem. Second fundraiser at Brussels Pride.

  4. 2015 - 2019

    A varied festive palette: STR8FRIDAY bar concept at Salons Casa Rosa, Silent Disco "Ode Gand" on De Barge, Light Party, Bal Masqué and VIP Roze Donderdag during the Ghent Festival at NTG.

  5. 2020 - 2021

    A summer BBQ at Carlos Quinto. KajakforGent at the Blaarmeersen in support of Rainbowambassadors - 72 participants.

  6. 2022

    Cultural New Year's walk in the Citadelpark for Toontje vzw, a solidarity party for Ukraine at BED, and the Rainbow Waffle Sale for School Zonder Pesten.

  7. 2023 - 2025

    The monthly Str8-to-Dinner becomes the structural heart of our activity. Continued expansion of solidarity moments and direct support to partner organisations.

  8. 2026

    Charity BBQ on Sunday 6 September in the Koetshuis of the Wippelgem Castle Estate - more than 160 participants. The proceeds go to the MSK in Ghent, Acantha and Chasing the Rainbow.

Support us

Make a donation.

Over the years, roughly half of our resources goes to direct support for people or organisations, and the other half to community building and awareness. Your donation contributes to that.

Scan the QR with your banking app, or copy the IBAN and transfer via your usual bank transfer. No intermediary, no fees - everything goes directly to STR8FW VZW.

EPC QR code for SEPA bank transfer to STRAIGHT FORWARD VZW
Scan with your banking app → enter amount → confirm.

Support us directly via bank transfer.

No intermediary, no fees. You pay directly to STR8FW VZW.

IBAN
BE51 0689 4311 5162
Beneficiary
STRAIGHT FORWARD VZW
Reference
GIFT - your name

Get involved

Stay in the loop. Be part of the journey.

In 2026 membership of STR8FW is free. You become an associate member: you belong and help build, without voting rights at the general assembly. Your membership never silently rolls over into a paid formula.

Sign up for our newsletter, become a member, or both. We'll keep you posted about the BBQ, the cooking club and everything we organise.

We use your data only to keep you informed. You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing info@str8fw.be. See our privacy policy.

IBAN copied