Identities in Romania’s Post-Same-Sex Marriage Ban Referendum: Negotiating Queerness

This article examines discourses on queerness and the transformation of queer identities in Romania following the 2018 Referendum on the Same-Sex Marriage Constitutional Ban. Through interviews with queer individuals in Suceava and Galați, the research explores how queer people perceive their identities as political actors. The referendum marked a critical juncture in Romanian political culture, where conservative mobilization gained widespread support. In response, I argue that the expression of queer identities outside discourse from organizations (NGOs, politicians, political parties) has become more integral to activism in Romania. The interviews I conducted showed that since 2018, queer people have used self-expression (presenting as trans in public or working in artistic spaces) as a means of making anti-system statements and expressing their disapproval of both the political system and the strategies of queer NGOs. However, the potential to transform these practices into large-scale mobilization depends upon NGOs adapting the strategies of queer individuals. Thus, it is essential that NGO’s prioritize feedback from queer voices outside Bucharest, empower queer self-expression, and continue efforts to improve the quality of life for queer people in Romania.