Gay rights in Romania

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Contents 1 Laws against gays 2 Protection based on sexual orientation in law 3 Recognition of same-sex couples 4 Other LGBT-related legislation 5 Gay life in the country 6 See also 7 Notes

[edit] Laws against gays

There are currently no laws against gays in Romania (however, civil marriage is only allowed for opposite-sex couples). Consensual homosexual acts between adults in private were legalised in 1996, even though the last anti-gay law – Article 200 of the Penal Code, which criminalised public manifestations of homosexuality – was repealed only in 2001.

[edit] Protection based on sexual orientation in law

Since 2000, there exists an anti-discrimination law that explicitly outlaws discrimination against sexual orientation in a variety of fields, including employment, the provision of and access to goods and services, housing, education, health care, the justice system, other public services and social security.^[1] The law has been tested by the National Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD) and has been applied successfully. An example of this is when TAROM, the national air carrier, was reported to the CNCD and fined because it refused to allow gay partners to take advantage of its discounts for couples on Valentine's Day 2004. The situation was then rectified by TAROM.

[edit] Recognition of same-sex couples

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Romania

There is currently no recognition of same-sex couples, even though the current president of Romania, Traian Băsescu, said he has nothing against same-sex marriage, leading many to believe that Romania may soon pass legislation in this field.

[edit] Other LGBT-related legislation

Since 2002, the age of consent is equal for both heterosexual and homosexual sex, at 15 years of age.^[2]

Since 1996, it is possible for someone who has gone through gender reassignment surgery to legally change their gender in their official documents to reflect their new biological sex. Additionally, it is legal for single women, including lesbians, to access means of assisted insemination, such as IVF.^[3]

Gays are allowed to serve openly in the Romanian army. According to the Ministry of Defence's recruitment policy, "it is the right of every Romanian citizen to take part in the military structures of our country, regardless of their sexual orientation."^[4]

[edit] Gay life in the country

Romania has made significant progress in gay rights legislation since 2000. In 2006, it was named by Human Rights Watch as one of five countries that had made "exemplary progress in combating rights abuses based on sexual orientation or gender identity."^[5] Although the last anti-gay law, Article 200, was repealed in 2001, attitudes towards gays are still quite discriminatory, particularly in rural areas. The GayFest pride marches in Bucharest in 2005 and 2006 were met with significant opposition from far-right wing groups (particularly Noua Dreaptă), even though they took place successfully. A growing gay scene exists in the major Romanian cities, most particularly in Bucharest, which has a few gay clubs. Apart from the annual GayFest in Bucharest, there are a number of other LGBT cultural events in the country, such as Cluj-Napoca's Gay Film Nights, an annual LGBT film festival.

The primary nongovernmental organization advocating for LGBT rights, ACCEPT, has worked to break down many of the political and social barriers for LGBT Romanians.

In September 2006, the British Council conducted a survey in various Romanian cities which, among other things, sought to ascertain the beliefs of Romanian young people (aged between 15 and 25) regarding LGBT rights. Of those surveyed, 39.1% believed that LGBT rights should be extended, 35.9% believed that the LGBT rights situation is satisfactory in Romania, while 15.6% of people stated that LGBT people have too many rights. 9.4% were undecided. Additionally, 71.9% of the young people surveyed stated that LGBT rights should be protected, indicating relatively high levels of acceptance among this demographic.^[6]

[edit] See also

• Same-sex marriage in Romania
• ACCEPT

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Accessing Health: the Context and the Challenges for LGBT People in Central and Eastern Europe (April 2006), ILGA-Europe, April 2006
2. ^ World Legal Wrap Up Survey July 2006, ILGA
3. ^ Legal Survey of LGBT Rights Worldwide, PDF file
4. ^ Dilema Armatei romane: cu sau fara homosexuali, Evenimentul Zilei, 26 November 2006
5. ^ On International Day Against Homophobia, Violations Mixed With Victories, Human Rights Watch
6. ^ (Romanian) O perspectivă asupra valorilor tinerilor români (A perspective on the values of young Romanian people), British Council in Romania

	Romanian LGBT topics
Law	Gay rights in Romania | Same-sex marriage in Romania | Article 200
People	Florin Buhuceanu | Romaniţa Iordache
Organisations	ACCEPT | Be An Angel
Events	GayFest | Gay Film Nights
Media	Inklusiv | ENOLA | Switch | Angelicuss | GayOne.ro | Radio Q
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