A Romanian same-sex advocacy group on Friday accused the Bucharest city hall of trying to sideline an upcoming gay pride march.
More than a dozens later protested outside the city hall holding a giant rainbow flag. „They shouted „Homophobia at the city hall,” and „Freedom, not censorship.”
ACCEPT said authorities were refusing to allow the annual event take place on Calea Victoriei, in downtown Bucharest, its regular route.
Participants
City officials have proposed a route which would limit the number of participants, organizers said. They are expecting thousands of people at the August 14 event.
The group said the city council had offered two streets in downtown Bucharest which would be open to traffic, and unsafe.
This route “is next to oncoming traffic and will jeopardize the safety of participants,” a statement said. “We categorically refuse the non-pedestrian (route).”
The city hall said the march couldn’t be held on its usual route as Calea Victoriei was a regular pedestrian zone during the weekends. It said that the group had asked for permission for 10,000 people to attend, in violation of pandemic rules which allow a maximum of 500.
Erroneous interpretation
Teodora Ion-Rotaru, ACCEPT’s executive director, called the city hall decision “malicious and an erroneous interpretation of the law.”
Organizers expect up to 10,000 at next weekend’s Bucharest Pride. It will be the 15th edition of the event.
The group noted that 20 years after homosexuality was decriminalized in the former communist country, the city hall was “boycotting” the march.
Bucharest Pride
The group said it would continue efforts to get Bucharest Pride back on its regular route, one that participants and law enforcement are familiar with. .
A recent survey carried out by ACCEPT showed one-quarter of Romanians are in favor of same-sex marriage. A further 43% say there should be some form of legal protection for same-sex families, something which currently doesn’t exist in Romania.
Despite the shift in progressive attitudes, the majority of Romanians still oppose legalizing gay unions. There are at least 21 same-sex couples suing Romania at European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, over their lack of legal protection.
Same-sex families
However, the survey shows a shift in attitudes to same-sex couples and a growing belief that they should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples, the group which ordered the poll said.
Support for LGBT and LGBTI people was highest among younger people and those who know members of the gay community.
LGBTI
ACCEPT is an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
It said the results of the last results showed “an upward trend in the acceptance of LGBTI people and same-sex couples” in Romania.
One-quarter of Romanians in favor of same-sex marriage, new survey shows
