A survey shows that 70% of Romanians believe that all families should be protected by law, including same-sex families

70% of Romanians believe that all families should be protected by law, including same-sex families, the ACCEPT Association said in a press release, citing a survey conducted in March 2024 by Cult Research, on a significant representative statistical sample for the resident population of Romania over 18 years of age.

56% of Romanians agree with marriage or another form of legal recognition of same-sex families, 13 points more than in 2021 (43%), according to the ACCEPT statement.

Romanians are more empathetic and more aware of the injustices to which LGBT families are subjected in their country, as can be seen from the recorded figures. 69% of respondents think it’s unfair that LGBT people can’t inherit their partner in the event of death and 67% think it’s unfair that they can’t visit their partner in hospital. Among parents, 55% of them say that if their sons or daughters were gay or lesbian, they would want the law to allow them to marry the person they love, just like everyone else.

More and more Romanians understand that LGBT people are or can be parents and that both they and their children need legal protection, just like for any family (57% of Romanians, 5 points more than in 2021 ).

The visibility of LGBT people in Romanian society has also increased. If in 2021, only 19% of Romanians knew a person from the community, in recent years the percentage has increased by 10 points, up to 29%. Most of those who answered yes have LGBT colleagues or friends, a sign that the number of people who feel safe to assume their identity in public has increased.

Execution of the ECHR Decision on family equality – a failure of the Government

March 25 was the deadline by which the Romanian Government had to submit to the Council of Europe an action plan for the implementation of the ECtHR ruling on the legal protection and recognition of LGBT families. Although the figures show the majority support of the society, the legislators showed themselves unprepared, showing indifference regarding the needs of the citizens. In the document sent 6 months after the decision became final, the Government stated that it is still looking for implementation methods, according to the quoted statement

“6 months have passed since the decision became final. Every day that passes without civil marriage and civil partnership for everyone is a new day in which human rights are violated, in which citizens of this country suffer”, said Florina Presada, executive director of ACCEPT.