Moldova’s LGBTQ+ people say EU referendum offers ‘hope’

People gather to celebrate the European Union’s decision to open membership talks with Moldova during a rally and concert in Chisinau, Moldova, December 17, 2023. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza

People gather to celebrate the European Union’s decision to open membership talks with Moldova during a rally and concert in Chisinau, Moldova, December 17, 2023. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza

Painful choices

The stakes are also high for trans Moldovans.

Moldova is far from implementing progressive self-determination laws like Denmark, Spain or Belgium. People who want to change their gender identity must get an official medical diagnosis of “transsexuality” or “transsexualism” and their request must be recognised by the courts.

In January 2023, the commission responsible for issuing diagnostic certificates was disbanded, leaving trans Moldovans with no legal gender recognition procedure.

“In the last 14 years, we have been able to help 12 individuals change their names on their documents,” Zbancă said.

“That number is so small. How many more transgender people are there in Moldova who cannot get their names changed? Imagine what they are going through.”

The Moldovan health ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the legal gender recognition procedure.  

Zbancă said trans people often have to leave Moldova to undergo gender reassignment surgery or name changes. They cannot then return as their name would not match their original Moldovan documents.

“These are painful choices that people have to make.”

LGBTQ+ Moldovans and activists know that even if the “yes” camp succeeds on Oct. 20 and Moldova subsequently joins the EU, progress on LGBTQ+ rights is not guaranteed.

Europe is becoming increasingly polarised over gay and transgender rights, as reports of hate crimes and harassment reach record levels across the continent, new research showed in May.   

Bulgaria and Hungary have both passed laws to ban so-called LGBTQ+ propaganda, while similar bills have been introduced in Slovakia, Luxembourg and Romania.

“I see that the European Union is not perfect and that there is a lot of backlash from other countries, but at least the EU has a human rights framework in which we can work,” Zbancă said.

Andrei described the referendum as a “symbolic vote”.

“Joining [the EU] may not automatically guarantee us equal rights, but I do believe it will bring change to Moldova,” he said. “This referendum is my chance to bring change to Moldova – our community urgently needs it. It offers hope.”

($1 = 0.9147 euros)  

(Reporting by Noah Anthony Enahoro; Editing by Ayla Jean Yackley.)

Source link : https://www.context.news/socioeconomic-inclusion/moldovas-lgbtq-people-say-eu-referendum-offers-hope

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Publish date : 2024-10-15 13:03:00

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