8,000 March For Pride In Bucharest

Bucharest Pride returned this weekend for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, with an estimated 8,000 people arriving to march for equality.

Whilst Romania decriminalized homosexuality in 2001, its strict socially-conservative political atmosphere has meant it still does not recognize or permit same-sex weddings or civil partnerships. More concerningly, ultra-conservative lawmakers have mooted plans to introduce a "gay propaganda" ban – as seen in Hungary and Russia – when Parliament reconvenes in September.

The junior ruling coalition ethnic Hungarian party UDMR and the opposition ultra-nationalist Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) may end up putting the country on a collision course with the EU, which has been seen in Poland and Hungary over their treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.

An estimated 8,000 people arrived in Bucharest for the Pride parade, waving flags and celebrating. Riot police watched on, and fined attendees for breaching the maximum number of attendees allowed at protests, which the Pride organizers intend to contest.

Attending her second Pride parade, Daria, 16, said, "We have a long way to go as a country until we come to accept everyone."

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