'Our visibility can no longer be ignored.' Thousands fill the streets for 20th Bucharest Pride
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Around 30,000 people filled the streets of Bucharest on Saturday, waving rainbow flags and chanting messages of solidarity and inclusion in Romania’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride march to date. Organisers say it marks the biggest turnout since the event began 20 years ago.
The first Pride in Bucharest took place in 2005, shortly after homosexuality was decriminalised. Back then, only a few hundred participants faced down threats and hostility. Since then, the event has evolved into a vibrant cultural festival, featuring not just the parade but also film screenings, debates, art exhibitions, and sports.
This year’s march began at the government building and ended in front of Parliament, with music, dancing, and banners demanding civil union rights, access to trans healthcare, and legal protections. Slogans like “Love is the worst feeling you could hate” and “Equality in love, equality in inheritance” echoed through the crowd.
“This year’s Pride shows that our protest has taken root in public consciousness,” said Victor Ciobanu, director of the Accept Association. “We are now a strong presence in public life, and our visibility can no longer be ignored.”
While the event remained peaceful, a few individuals attempting to disrupt the march were removed by authorities. A small counter-protest took place elsewhere in the city, with participants carrying religious symbols and calling for an Orthodox Christian nation.
The Romanian Orthodox Church, which represents over 85% of the population, condemned the Pride march, calling it “provocative and inappropriate,” especially as it coincided with the eve of Pentecost.
Although Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, it remains one of the EU’s most restrictive countries regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Efforts to legalise civil partnerships have repeatedly stalled, and the constitution defines marriage without specifying gender. In 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Romania must legally recognise same-sex couples, but implementation has yet to begin.
Despite political resistance, surveys suggest younger Romanians are increasingly supportive of equal rights, hinting at a gradual cultural shift.
