Homosexuality as Seen by Romanians
Cami

For all Romanians, 1989 was the year of a huge, unprecedented liberation. We all thought that a long and painful age of darkness had come to an end – that we would no longer be forced to hide our feelings, our thoughts, and our experiences. It has been said that post communist Romania could be a model for other countries in the region, in what concerns human rights, and that caring for all citizens has been the main priority for authorities in Bucharest.

Paradoxically enough, Romanian citizens sign most of the complaints addressed to the European Court for Human Rights. The collapse of the communist regime has undoubtedly improved the situation related to human rights and individual freedom. A lot of people felt free for the first time in their lives. However, for others, freedom is still an empty word. Some of us still have to censor their inner life. To some of us, the very right to happiness is denied. Some of us have to hide our sexual orientation, because the Romanian society still follows old patterns of thinking. The way in which homosexuality is seen and interpreted in Romania proves that most of the people are still blinded by prejudice and resentment. The civil society treats us in such a way, that it is hard to believe that the fate of Romanian homosexuals will ever change for the better.

The Romanian Orthodox Church is one of the institutions that are most fierce in condemning homosexuality – with an energy that should be put to a better use. Church representatives have tried to deny any rights to homosexuals, by repeatedly talking about their feelings as being unnatural and immoral. “The moving pleadings” of some Church authorities, by which homosexual practices are strongly disapproved, prove only their inability to give up old religious stereotypes.

After 1989, media was very interested by homosexuality. This interest unveiled two kinds of attitudes, from the part of Romanian journalists: either a tolerant attitude towards homosexuals, or a premeditated impoliteness, which was sometimes “spiced” with ironic remarks. Despite all these, TV shows and newspaper articles on this subject had a strong impact on the audience – as people acknowledged at least the fact that homosexuality exists.

Given this fact, Romanian authorities have tried – some would say, were forced to try by international organisms – to change legal provisions that incriminate same-sex relations and are still at work in the Romanian penal code. Unfortunately, the results were rather discouraging, as the law is pretty much the same. It seems that our MPs have extremely high moral principles, which would not allow them to take into consideration such a sinful community.
Whether the authorities accept it or not, the truth remains the same: there are Romania citizens who are gay. It is a reality nobody can change. It is an old saying that “one’s freedom stretches as far as it doesn’t affect others’”. People who don’t accept us should take the time to know who we really are, first. Because no matter what they say, we won’t spend our lives justifying the way we feel. We have a right to love. We have a right to enjoy life, just like everybody else. We want to have a fulfilled existence. And we don’t want to live it deception.

We have rights.