The 2010 Romanian Gay March was small but safe

A lot of journalists, enough supportive people and just a few members of the LGBT community... Only their leaders. Around 200 people.

Nice atmosphere, like for a celebration, with a plus brought by the group from the British Embassy, a supporter of the event. They gave a little glimpse from a true Pride. Overall things were as it supposed to be.

ACCEPT organized carefully the Diversity March. Security all over, two empty boulevards, police, gendarmes. The participans were more secure than a president. They prepared to deal with a huge crowd. But it wasn't one.

The participants were civilised, marched nicely on DJ Pagal's music, among balloons, flags and whistles.

There were still covered faces, avoiding to be recognized by somebody. There were warnings from the organizers telling you toremove all Rainbow signs, for your own safety, after the march. And all these things show that we are still far from a relaxed gay community, here, in Romania.

But above all, these street events have a designated purpose and even just for one day a year, on two empty boulevards,more secure that the Pope himself, it is great that you can be who you are and you can ask for your rights. Speeches were kept in front of the House of Parliament. Speakers were invited, more from abroad than from Romania. But everything finished way to soon.

What was an intriguing thing for the community was that the Romanian Gay March didn't had a message. So, somehow, it wasn't a march. But, on the other hand, it wasn't a Pride either.

The media just mentioned the event, busy with more serious things and disappointed that this year they didn't find anyting so sensational enough to make ratings.

Importat to mention is the comment that the journalist Laura Cernahoschi made on Vox Publica. Here's an excerpt:

"I haven't seen in Bucharest, in an ordinary day, two gay people waking and keeping eachother's hand. I can't even think about a kiss. I haven't seen gay people in an restaurant caressing eachother. I haven't seen any of the natural gestures I saw in other cities, European or not. And I'm talking about what's going on here, in Bucharest, because in the country, the taboos are magnified.
Some people are asking why the sexual minorities need to parade on the streets or why always the participants are the most exhibitionist ones. That's why they need it. Because that's how you obtain the rights."