Victory in Romania as government delays public vote on whether to ban gay marriage

Victory in Romania as government delays public vote on whether to ban gay marriage.

The referendum is unlikely to be held on 11 December, as previously planned.

The Romanian government will not debate a referendum banning same-sex marriage for now.

On Monday (7 October), Parliament was supposed to debate a potential referendum which would see citizens vote on whether the constitution should define marriage as between a man and a woman.

It was introduced by the anti-gay Coalition for Family.

In a petition, signed by more than three million people, they demand the constitution should be changed to state ‘the family is founded on the freely consented marriage between a man and a woman, their equality and the right and duty of parents to ensure the upbringing, education and instruction of children.’

At the moment, the constitution states a marriage is between two spouses.

As a result, a positive vote on the referendum would automatically place a ban on same-sex marriage and make full equality impossible.

‘The push to change the Constitution of Romania and ban gay marriage right before the beginning of the electoral campaign for legislative elections would have gravely affected the status of the Romanian democracy,’ Vlad Viski, president of Romanian LGBTI organization MozaiQ, told Gay Star News.

‘The main proponents of the change, the Coalition for Family, pressured politicians to schedule a referendum concerning the ban on gay marriage simultaneously with the elections for a new Parliament, in order to make sure the required 30% threshold participation rate be met.’

Senators Ovidiu Dontu and Titus Corlatean, representing the Social Democrats, introduced a draft law which would’ve seen the referendum fast-tracked to be held on 11 December – the same day as Romania’s parliamentary election.

The date was set because both senators hope it will encourage voter turnout and limit smaller parties entering parliament.

By not debating the matter, it is now unlikely, if not impossible, the referendum will be held on that date, as the government is due to enter a holiday period while candidates campaign for their election.

Liviu Dragnea, head of the Social Democrats, asked the senators to withdraw their draft law, because the election and the referendum on same-sex marriage ‘are not related with each other’.

If they decide to ignore his demand, Parliament has two weeks to decide on the matter.

‘As all of the political party leaders in the Parliament came out in support of the so-called “traditional family”, local NGOs wrote to the Parliament, public opinion leaders expressed their outrage at such a push to ban gay marriage, even a few politicians expressed opposition to such a process, most of them privately,’ Viski said.

‘The campaign to ban gay marriage in the Constitution is turning out to be an opportunity for the LGBTI community in Romania, with an avalanche of support from numerous allies throughout society.

‘The Coalition for Family and the Orthodox Church seemed desperate these days to use all of their influence to undermine Romania’s democracy. They’ve failed, so far, but there is yet a long battle ahead.’

Source: gaystarnews