Same-sex marriage in Romania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Same-sex marriage |
|---|
| Performed nationwide in |
|
Netherlands (2001) |
| Performed statewide in |
| Massachusetts, USA (2004) |
| Foreign same-sex marriage recognized in |
| Israel (2006) |
| Debate in other countries and regions |
|
Argentina |
| See also |
|
Civil union |
Same-sex marriage is not legal in any Eastern Orthodox-majority nation, including Romania. In Romania, homosexuality was banned by the Communist authorities. It was legalised in 1996, and the last anti-gay law, Article 200, was abolished in 2001 under pressure from the Council of Europe.
Romanian President Traian Băsescu said during his electoral campaign of late 2004 that he sees nothing wrong with same sex marriage. The opposition Social Democratic Party later used his comments against him during the presidential campaign.
The primary LGBT rights in Romania, ACCEPT, has advocated for partnership rights for same sex couples as well as for same-sex marriage in Romania. The organisation launched a campaign to legalise same-sex unions in Romania during the Bucharest GayFest 2006, which lasted from 30 May to 4 June, and was organised under the theme of "Same-sex marriage and civil unions in Romania". This event provoked widespread debate over the issue in the media. LGBT activists from ACCEPT organised a public debate and seminar on same-sex unions on May 31, and called on the government to provide marriage or at least registered partnership for same-sex couples, offering its assistance in forming a legislative proposal.[1] So far, the government has not responded.
Romaniţa Iordache, the president of ACCEPT, stated on May 31 that "Article 200 [the last anti-gay law] has been abrogated, but we [the LGBT community] still do not have equal rights, even though the Constitution guarantees this."[2] The spokesman of ACCEPT, Florin Buhuceanu, claimed that, "Guaranteeing the equality of rights through the recognition of gay marriage... is just a step forward."[3]
Romania's first religious same-sex marriage ceremony took place on 5 June 2006, following the Bucharest GayFest, when Florin Buhuceanu, the executive director of ACCEPT, "married" his Spanish partner of four years. The symbolic marriage, which has no legal status in Romania, was blessed by the Metropolitan Community Church in Bucharest, an international denomination which recognises same-sex unions and supports LGBT rights. The couple have declared that they will marry officially later this year, in a civil marriage in Spain, where same-sex marriage is legal.[4]
[edit] Political party viewpoints
None of Romania's major political parties, either in government or in opposition, explicitly supports same-sex marriage, or has proposed any law regarding it, resulting in the debate about this issue in the political sphere being more reserved than in civil society and the media.
On June 6, 2006, the Cotidianul newspaper conducted interviews with representatives of the five main political parties, asking them about their stance on same-sex marriage.[5]
Crin Antonescu, the leader of the parliamentary delegation of the National Liberal Party, part of the governing alliance, declined to give an official party view on the matter. Instead, he said that, "Both the party and myself have given proof that we are in favour of recognising sexual minorities. However, personally I am against marriage between people of the same sex."
The leader of the Democratic Party, the other large governing coalition member, was similarly elusive, stating that: "Now is not the right moment to talk about this issue [same-sex marriage]. We now have other much more important things to do regarding European integration. Let's integrate firstly, and then we can see the way in which mentalities change. Eventually, we will discuss this issue then." Romania's EU accession took place in January 2007.
Liviu Negoiţă, the Democrat mayor of Bucharest's Sector 3, stated that, "if a law will exist [legalising same-sex marriage], I will respect it. As a mayor, I don't have any other choice. Personally, I respect the sexual choice of each person."[6]
The largest opposition party, the Social Democrats, whose stance on social issues is usually more conservative than that of the governing parties, stated that they would "not initiate and would not support such a legislative proposal". However, the party's official spokesperson also proclaimed that, "A public debate [on same-sex marriage] is necessary, in order to see in what way the standards regarding fundamental liberties can be improved in regards to people with another sexual orientation."
Opposition was seen most clearly from the far-right, nationalist Greater Romania Party. The vice-president of the party stated that, "Clearly, we wouldn't initiate such a legislative proposal, since we're a Christian party. The sin of sodomy is one of the biggest [sins]."
The Conservative Party was less vocal in its opposition to same-sex marriage, with Octavian Petrovici, the vice-president of the party's Bucharest division, stating about same-sex couples that "it's their own choice, and in the same way that we respect the option of every citizen, we respect the choice of these people. However, it is a long way from respecting a choice to making special laws, which do not match the values and principles that our party affirms."
On November 27, 2006, the women's organisation of the Conservative Party adopted a resolution opposing same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption. The resolution declared that, "The family has as its primary aim our continuity and we will continue to support its development, particularly since we will be confronted in the future with an accentuated process of ageing and a significant reduction in the population. We reject categorically the legalisation of same-sex marriage."[7]
[edit] Trivia
It is also worth noting that former United States Ambassador to Romania, Michael E. Guest, is an openly gay man. He resided together with his domestic partner at the Residence of the American Embassy in Bucharest until 2004 when his appointment by President George W. Bush ended.
[edit] Notes
- ^ (Romanian) A treia ediţie GayFest (The third edition of GayFest), HotNews, 25 May 2006
- ^ (Romanian) Homosexualii romani vor casatorie cu acte (Romanian gays want to marry legally), Libertatea, 31 May 2006
- ^ Romanians launch campaign to legalize same-sex marriage, AP/Dallas Voice, 1 June 2006
- ^ http://www.libertatea.ro/index.php?section=articole&screen=stire&sid=154747
- ^ (Romanian) Familia Florin şi Raul nu primeşte credit cu buletinul, Cotidianul, 6 June 2006
- ^ Vanghelie: 'Sa se duca in Congo!' (Vanghelie: They should go to Congo!), Libertatea, 1 June 2006
- ^ Vest Flash, Evenimentul Zilei, November 27, 2006
 |
Romanian LGBT topics |  |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Gay rights in Romania | Same-sex marriage in Romania | Article 200 | |
| People | Florin Buhuceanu | Romaniţa Iordache | Lucian Dunăreanu | Toxice | |
| Organisations | ACCEPT | Be An Angel | |
| Events | GayFest | Gay Film Nights | |
| Media | Inklusiv | ENOLA | Switch | Angelicuss | GayOne.ro | Radio Q | |
