Western Embassies Condemn Romanian Church for Criticizing Gay Parade in Bucharest

The Romanian Orthodox Church’s position regarding LGBT parades in the country has sparked a sharp response from several Western diplomatic missions. In an official statement, the Romanian Patriarchate expressed concern over the organization of gay, lesbian, and transgender parades in various Romanian cities. This was reported by the Ziua.md news portal.

The Church specifically noted that the upcoming Bucharest Pride parade is scheduled just before one of the major Christian holidays — the Feast of the Holy Trinity — which they warn could lead to social tension.

Twenty-four Western embassies accredited in Romania responded with a joint message, publicly criticizing the Church’s stance. Their statement reads:

“On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Bucharest Pride, we, the diplomatic missions, reaffirm our strong and unwavering support for the LGBTIQ+ community in Romania. The Romanian people have confirmed their commitment to democratic values, pluralism, and European integration. These values — dignity, equality, and justice — also lie at the core of the LGBTIQ+ rights movement. Respect for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people is not a matter of ideology, but of legal obligations and democratic integrity.”

It is also worth noting that the Kyiv City State Administration found itself at the center of controversy after updating its official social media avatars with an image of Archangel Michael against the background of a rainbow flag — the symbol of the LGBT movement. With this, the administration declared its support for Pride Month and “values of equality and tolerance.”