It has been a sad week for Gay Pride parades in the eastern part of Europe.  Authorities in Moldova banned a rally outside Parliament last Friday as part of Chisinau’s fourth annual Pride weekend.  Within 24 hours came news that the mayor of Warsaw had vetoed the planned parade in the Polish capital next month – organisers this said this week the parade would go ahead as they had found a legal way round the ban.

Tonight comes news that the Pride Parade – GayFest – scheduled for Saturday May 28 in the Romanian capital, Bucharest has been refused permission by the Mayor’s office in a major u-turn after the parade had been originally approved.

But gay Romanians are defiant.

“The march on May 28 will go ahead as planned, even though it will be an act of civil disobedience,” vowed Florin Buhceanu, Executive Director, Accept Romania, the human rights organization which is a co-organizing the “Pride” event.

Ironically, on the same day, while city authorities in Bucharest are denying gays their Pride Parade and forcing them into an “act of civil disobedience”, in England’s “second city”, Birmingham, their colourful Pride Parade event goes ahead with the full support – both logistical and financial – of city authorities.

In an impassioned email sent out tonight by Florin Buhceanu and Rev. Elder Diane Fisher of the Metropolitan Community Churches, the world-wide gay community is being asked for help, even at this late hour.

“Your help is urgently needed to support the LGBT community in Romania,” Buhcean and Rev. Fisher write.  “We are reaching out to ask for your support.

“It would be extremely helpful if you and your organization could write a letter of support for Gay Fest in Bucharest and a condemnation of the actions of the mayor and the mayor’s commissioner.  This is a critical time in Romanian history.  It is imperative that the LGBT community not be left out of the societal reform but included as full members of society, citizens with all the rights and protections that are guaranteed to others.”

They are asking the world to take two steps.

Firstly, write a letter to Adrieau Videanu, Mayor of Bucharest, telling him you support GayFest.  Ask him to support equality for all people and provide protection for the GayFest Parade. Tell him the eyes of the world will be focused on Bucharest, Romania this week.

Send your email to the Mayor and President of Romania, Traian Basescu.  Click here for email addresses (included are the addresses for Florin Buhceanu and Rev. Elder Diane Fisher who have specifically asked that they should receive copies)

And secondly, get your friends to also send an email.

The parade route in Bucharest initially proposed by the organizing committee for GayFest, was taken before the mayor's commissioner's office.  But officers suggested an alternate route, which was agreed to by the GayFest Committee and Accept/Bucharest.

At a second meeting with the commissioner’s office, there was a change of position.  The Commission said they would no longer provide support for the march, citing an inability to provide enough coverage to keep people safe.

Since that time there has been a public statement issued by the mayor of Bucharest saying that this is not the time for such a demonstration and withdrawing his support.

Additionally, the Orthodox Church in Romania has loudly and publicly protested any LGBT march being allowed to go ahead.

Last month, the European Parliament voted 497to 93 (with  71 abstentions) in favour of Romania joining the European Union in 2007.  However, MEPs noted serious shortcomings which need to be addressed, including "the eradiation of all violence and discrimination against minority groups".

With the "Accession Bill" now passed, Parliament has no further say in the run-up to the accession in two year's time.  However, MEPs want to be able to continue to influence the course of events Romania until the actual accessions take place, scheduled for 2007.

LINKS

Accept Romania website

From UK Gay News Archives

Moldovan Authorities Ban Gay Rally Outside Parliament
Mayor Puts Damper on Gay Pride Parade in Warsaw
Warsaw’s Gay Pride Parade To Go Ahead Despite Mayor’s Ban

24  May  2005