In the aftermath of an epic fail by conservative groups in Romania to change the country’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage this past weekend, Reuters is reporting that Romania’s ruling party now hopes to introduce legislation legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples.
European Affairs Minister Victor Negrescu told the state news agency, “This draft bill is finalized and…my fellow lawmakers will submit it in parliament next week.”
The anti-gay referendum, supported by the Romanian Orthodox Church, only drew 21% of voters.
To approve a constitutional change, at least 30% of eligible voters must participate in order for it to be valid.
The Romanian Constitutional Court ruled last month that gay couples should have the same rights as all families.
In June 2018, the European Union’s high court ruled that member nations must grant residency rights to LGBT couples legally married in other EU countries after a Romanian national sued to bring his American husband to Romania.
Same-sex marriage is currently legal in 14 of the 28 EU member nations. Six European Union countries, including Romania, offer no legal recognition for same-sex relationships.
According to ILGA-Europe, Romania ranks near the bottom of European Union countries (#25) when it comes to LGBTQ issues like equality, family issues and hate speech to legal gender recognition, freedom of expression and asylum rights.
Hoping, but not expecting.
Hoping, but not expecting.
Eastern Europe is still a very homophobic.