Latest news with #civilpartnership
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Tens of thousands march in Romania demanding LGBTQ equality
BUCHAREST, June 7 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Romanians joined an LGBTQ Pride march in Bucharest on Saturday, demanding civil union partnership legislation and equal rights after a highly-contested presidential election last month buoyed the far right. The European Union state has so far ignored a 2023 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, which found Romania had failed to enforce the rights of same-sex couples by refusing to recognise their relationships. Socially conservative Romania decriminalised homosexuality in 2001, decades later than other parts of the EU, but still bars marriage and civil partnerships for same-sex couples. "We want legal protection for same-sex couples, an easy legal procedure for transitioning, protection against hate speech and prejudice-based crimes," said Teodora Roseti, president of Romanian LGBTQ rights organisation ACCEPT and Pride's organiser. In Bucharest, marchers danced and carried the rainbow flag 20 years after the first Pride parade was held, carrying banners such as "Love is the worst feeling you could hate", "Equality in love, equality in inheritance. Civil partnership for all". Roughly 30,000 people attended the parade, ACCEPT estimated. The march comes at a fraught moment in Central and Eastern Europe, where far right parties have gained ground. Poles held a similar parade on Saturday. Hours before the Romanian march, a smaller anti-Pride protest took place, with participants demanding an Orthodox Christian nation and waving flags carrying the Celtic cross, a known far-right symbol. In Romania, centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan ultimately won the presidential election against hard-right opposition leader George Simion, a strong opponent of LGBTQ rights. ACCEPT and LGBTQ rights group Mozaiq warned of a rise in hate speech against the community during the election campaign, and their headquarters were defaced. In neighbouring Hungary, parliament passed legislation earlier this year that de facto bans holding Pride marches.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Poles march for LGBTQ+ equality after presidential vote raises fears
GDANSK, Poland, June 7 (Reuters) - Thousands of Poles took part in a Pride march in the northern port city of Gdansk on Saturday, showing their support for the LGBTQ+ community amid fears for its future after nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki won a presidential election. Participants waved rainbow flags and the blue, pink, and white banners representing the transgender community. Many carried placards bearing messages such as "Love is love" and "12 years together - when civil partnership?". A parallel Pride event was also held in the western city of Wroclaw. Nawrocki, supported by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, has raised alarm among LGBTQ+ advocates. During its time in power from 2015 to 2023, PiS made opposition to what it termed "LGBTQ+ ideology" a central part of its platform, framing it as a threat to traditional values in the predominantly Catholic country. "I was devastated to be honest," 23-year-old student Agata said when asked about Nawrocki's victory. "I am scared. I don't know what our future looks like." Although LGBTQ+ issues were less prominent in Nawrocki's campaign than in that of his PiS-backed predecessor Andrzej Duda in 2020, his platform included commitments to resist "ideology in schools" and to oppose adoption by same-sex couples. He has stated that marriage should remain between a man and a woman and, while rejecting civil partnerships, expressed a willingness to discuss legal recognition for a "close person", regardless of sexual orientation. In contrast, a pro-European coalition that came to power in 2023 introduced a draft bill to legalise civil partnerships. However, with the presidency holding veto power, the bill's future remains uncertain. Agata said that she hoped a law on civil partnerships could come into effect, but that it was unlikely during Nawrocki's presidency. "I want more equality in our society, in our country," she said.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Katherine Ryan, 41, is pregnant with FOURTH child after discussing her fertility struggles
Comedian Katherine Ryan has revealed she's expecting her fourth baby The Canadian star, 41, is expecting with her husband Bobby Kootstra, with whom she has been in a civil partnership since 2019. More to follow
