Romania

Romania decriminalized homosexuality very late, in January 2002, after an ordinance signed by President Iliescu. The Constitution was not amended (the 2018 referendum to constitutionalize man-woman marriage failed due to low turnout). No recognition of same-sex couples, despite the Strasbourg court's May 23, 2023 ruling in Buhuceanu and Others v. Romania finding that the absence of marriage or civil partnerships breaches Article 8 of the European Convention. (In 2018 the CJEU had already ruled in the Coman case that Romania must recognize residency for same-sex couples married in other EU states.) Anti-discrimination since 2000 with broad coverage (employment, goods and services, housing, education, health, justice, audiovisual, social security). Legal gender change requires surgery. No conversion therapy ban. Per the 2023 Eurobarometer, only 25% of Romanians back EU-wide access to marriage equality and 27% see no problem in same-sex relationships. Bucharest Pride in June is the main event and grows yearly · vibrant LGBTQI+ scene in the capital despite limited legal framework · Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara with university queer life.