Tens of thousands march at Pride events in Romania and Bulgaria to demand equality
Summary
Tens of thousands of people marched in Pride parades in the capitals of Romania and Bulgaria to demand equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. These countries, which joined the European Union in 2007, still have laws that do not recognize same-sex relationships, and both face strong opposition from conservative groups and traditional religious institutions.Key Facts
- Pride marches took place in Bucharest, Romania, and Sofia, Bulgaria, with large crowds supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
- Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and adopted human rights laws before joining.
- Both countries do not legally recognize same-sex marriage or civil partnerships.
- Activists want legal protections like inheritance rights, hospital visits, and survivor pensions for same-sex couples.
- Conservative groups and the Orthodox Church, which is followed by about 80% of Bulgarians, oppose LGBTQ+ rights.
- Anti-LGBTQ+ rallies were held in both capitals on the same day as the Pride events.
- Romania and Bulgaria rank lowest in the EU for legal and policy support of LGBTQ+ people according to ILGA-Europe.
- Recent years have seen an increase in hostility and hate speech against LGBTQ+ communities in these countries.
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