Tens of thousands march in Romania demanding LGBTQ equality

Tens of thousands march in Romania demanding LGBTQ equality

Tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ supporters took to the streets of Bucharest on Saturday, marking the 20th anniversary of the annual gay pride parade. The event, which saw marchers of all ages waving colorful flags and holding placards, was held amid a tense political climate marked by a rise in hate speech against the community.

The parade, organized by ACCEPT Association, an LGBTQ+ rights group, comes at a time when Romania has seen a surge in support for far-right and conservative political figures and parties. The election cycle has been characterized by a significant increase in hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, according to Victor Ciobotaru, executive director of ACCEPT Association. "We had more people complaining about being harassed on the streets or being attacked," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, right-wing groups who advocate for traditional family values and oppose same-sex marriage held an anti-LGBT countermarch in the capital. The event was marked by the presence of Romania’s tricolor national flag and placards depicting religious icons. Additionally, a large "STOP LGBT" banner was draped over an abandoned Bucharest apartment building before being removed.

This year's parade coincides with the 24th anniversary of Romania's decriminalization of homosexuality. Despite this progress, Romania ranks last among all 27 EU countries in ILGA-Europe's 2025 Rainbow Map, which assesses the legal and policy landscape for LGBTQ+ people across Europe [1].

The event is part of a broader trend in Central and Eastern Europe, where LGBTQ rights remain under threat. Similar events have been held in Poland, and legislation has been passed in Hungary to restrict Pride marches, underscoring the ongoing struggle against rising conservatism and hate speech in the region [3].

References:
[1] https://apnews.com/article/romania-pride-lgbtq-europe-human-rights-92acbef386d22ef93bfae15167dc7fb7
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bucharest-gay-pride-march-turns-20-lgbtq-romanians-122610632
[3] https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3451073-romanians-rally-for-equality-in-pride-march-amid-rising-far-right-influence