Photo Bucharest Pride, march with record presence. “Aggression has increased. But also our presence” / What the participants say that has changed for them

Participants from the largest Bucharest Pride march talked to Hotnews about how society changed and what the visibility means today. They also said that now I feel that homophobic speech is increasingly present in the public space.

20 years ago, the first Bucharest Pride edition took place in Bucharest. Then, about 300 people took part in the event, which the organizers remember “meant a more large gendarmes cord than participants and a courage to imagine in Romania in the 2000s”.

Today, June 7, the number of those who participated is 100 times higher. A number of 30,000 people went out on Saturday at the Bucharest Pride 2025 march – the largest edition so far.

What has changed in recent years by Pride?

The event, organized by the Accept Association, was held on the route that became classic, between Victoriei Square and Izvor Park, and ended with an outdoor concert.

According to participants who spoke with Hotnews, this year's edition of the Bucharest Pride March took place in a context perceived as more tense than in other years. However, the event took place without major incidents.

I asked those present how they felt this edition compared to the past and if they perceive any change in the way the LGBTI+ community is viewed in the Romanian society.

“We are told to stay in the bedroom only“

Andre, 36 years old, says he has noticed an accentuation of discriminatory speeches in the public space, started during the election campaign: “Fitagms were used, including in the election campaign, regarding the LGBT community. He also remembered that jokes and insinuations were made regarding the sexual orientation of a candidate.

Andre believes that the responsibility for this atmosphere is not only political, but also social-the community is often transformed into a “scapegoat for what is happening in the country”.

“We are told to stay only in the bedroom, but when we go out, like any tax payer in this country, we are persona non grata and judged for what is happening,” Andre continues.

“There are other neglected communities”

However, beyond tensions, Andre remarks and encouraging signs: “I have met allied people, who came today, and that is happy. It is our identity and it is not an, something passing.”

Andre says that, despite a general perception that “the bullet has passed”, the community cannot let the guard down.

It also draws attention to other marginalized communities, suggesting that society should give up the idea that only a certain type of citizens takes place in the public space. “There are other neglected communities, we must not be told that it is not our Romania.”

In his opinion, the identity of LGBTI+ is not incompatible with religion and rejects the idea that they would be the ones that generate conflict: “We do not physically aggressing, we do not make fun of those who appear between us with the Bible.” It refers to a moment during the march, when more people waited for participants in Pride with icons, religious messages and Bibles.

“Aggression has increased. But also our presence”

For Nicoleta, the difference from previous years is visible from several perspectives. First of all, regarding the number of participants: the increased presence in Pride is, in her opinion, a sign that the Romanian society is increasing.

“Here I speak of both people in the community and allies. This gives a powerful message that the Romanian society is prepared for a regulation of the civil partnership, for a form of protection for same -sex couples,” she shows her optimism.

However, the increase of visibility comes to the package and with an increase in hostility. Nicoleta talks about a political climate in which the Queer community is frequently targeted: “Aggression has increased greatly to the LGBT community. Extreme-right formations have demonized the Queer community into election campaigns, transforming homosexuals, lesbians and trans persons into the greatest danger to society.”

It is a phenomenon that he says he feels directly, in everyday life: “On my skin, I felt how hatred has grown exponentially against the background of the homophobic speeches of politicians.”

“It seemed safer than in other years”

For Constantin, 21 years old, present in Pride after a period spent in the UK, the 2025 edition was marked by a sense of safety that I did not feel as clear in the past: “I noticed young people, each one feels here, in Pride, I have seen many Straight people.

States that none of the candidates for recent elections were opened by LGBTI+rights, but says that the difference between them was felt: “It is clear that one of them was much more anti, with a bunch of pro-Gay versus, gays in the country.”

For him, the result of the elections contributed to a less tense atmosphere. Take into account a possible return to the country, if things continue to evolve positively: “If, maybe, in a few years, things will be more ok, I would go back to the country. Maybe with more pressure from the community.”

“I was expecting incidents to happen, fortunately they were not”

Mihai-Daniel Necula, influencer, activist and musician, tells that, although he had reserved expectations and feared possible incidents, the atmosphere of the march seemed calmer.

He notices a change of tone for the better, at least at the level of Bucharest: “I was expecting incidents, fortunately they were not. To my surprise, in Bucharest it is much ok than in other parts, even compared to last year. It is in general. It seemed that something has changed, but now we think we are on the right track.”

He makes a direct reference to Christian declared persons who, in his opinion, use the faith as a justification to publicly condemn the LGBTI+community.

Such positions were visible on the same day, in parallel, at the “march of normality”, which supports the family formed between a man and a woman, where religious icons and messages were displayed.

“It should know that, regardless of sexuality, things can go together. We do not argue with them. The war does not start from us, we do not go to Saint Parascheva on the edge.”

“There are gay Christians,” he concludes.

More pictures from Bucharest Pride: