Marchers flooded the capitals of Romania and Bulgaria for their annual Pride parades, demanding the legal recognition of same-sex civil partnerships. The massive turnout comes amid a sharp rise in nationalist opposition and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric from conservative political and church leaders in both nations. ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map ranks Romania and Bulgaria at the very bottom of the European Union for LGBTQ+ legal protections. Activists say the historic turnout proves that despite systemic prejudice and counter-protests, the fight for basic rights like marriage equality, inheritance, and healthcare access cannot be silenced.
