Very often, we encounter discrimination against Roma minorities in Romanian society. The worst thing is that the LGBT community, who itself wishes to be accepted, discriminates in this respect. The gay and lesbian Roma are not accepted by the Roma community itself, by society, and even by the other gays and lesbians.
I decided to interview a Roma-ethnical gay from ACCEPT, for better informing the LGBT community. We particularly address the Roma gays and lesbians, in order to enable them to identify their ethnical and sexual identity.

-Is there an unwritten law of gays and lesbians that Roma individuals sharing the same sexual orientation should be regarded differently?
I think so. Proof is the fact that in the LGBT community very few Romas are accepted, or almost none.

-How do you reconcile fight against prejudice regarding sexual orientation, and ethnic intolerance?
I can say that there is discrimination on both sides. I don’ know whether there is more or less. It is certain, however, that currently the gay Roma individuals are twice as discriminated: once ethnically, because they are Roma, and once because they are gays or lesbians.

-Could one say that a gay Roma individual and a heterosexual one are looked at with equal hostility by society? Or are gays more friendly towards a heterosexual Roma for whom they are untouchable?
No, because the Roma heterosexual is not part of the gay community, so social contacts are minimum, as opposed to the case of a gay Roma.

-It is clear that society is hostile to the idea of a gay couple, and blames it, but is society responsible for the fact that an inter-ethnic gay couple is “improper” even for peers of same ethnic background/same sexual orientation?
Both yes, and no. It is true that it all starts with the education one receives, and we must not forget that Roma individuals are citizens of this country, and have the same “old” mentality. It is not entirely their fault; press and television have a great influence, through the mistaken information brought to the attention of public opinion.

-How do foreigners react, and especially foreign gays, when meeting a gay Roma individual?
Foreigners’ attitude is far more open-minded – it is clear we cannot talk of discrimination. Proof are the interviews with Jason Wright and Dennis van der Veur in the latest issue of “lgbt@accept” newsletter.

-What can someone do if they are doubly discriminated against—ethnically and sexually—and who can they go to – which institution?
I think ACCEPT is a good start, and I hope that, in time, we will pride ourselves with an ever increasing number of gay and lesbian Roma individuals at ACCEPT. This, of course, cannot be possible without the members of our ethnic group.

-If homosexuality is inborn and not learned, how can you explain the fact that, being born a Roma, irreversible as a matter of fact, you cannot enjoy the same understanding from the other gays?
Society is to be blamed again, because people are very racist in our country. We should mention the fact that here we are not talking about the gay community in particular, but also about people in general. I don’t believe that gays and lesbians are different—and they have received the same kind of education in their families and school, which teaches them from early age to discriminate against the Roma ethnic group.