After a one-year break due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community is back in force in Cluj-Napoca. Cluj Pride, organised by the LGBTQ+ association PRIDE Romania in partnership with the Queer Sisterhood Cluj, will take place this year between 16 and 22 August. The festival will culminate at the end of the week with the Cluj Pride march. The organisers will announce details of the march in the coming days. This edition of Cluj Pride marks 20 years since the repeal of Article 200 of the Penal Code, which criminalised same-sex relationships. Two decades later, the festival’s events aim to celebrate diversity in a unique way, à la Cluj, and reflect on the evolving situation of sexual minority rights in Romania. At the same time, members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their friends, family and supporters, are called to continue the fight for respect and equality. “Cluj Pride celebrates our diversity both as a community and as individuals. We are a beautiful, eclectic and intersectional community and our colours are meant to shine in the sun, not hidden in the closet. We are proud and we are here as in the past years, happy to see each other again and to show how cool DIVERSITY À LA CLUJ is”, said Andrada Popa, President of PRIDE Romania. “Cluj Pride celebrates the freedom to be and love without being taken to jail, acceptance and good understanding between different people. We are visible as LGBTQ+ people because we exist and want to be authentic, but we are also here for those who cannot be visible because of homophobic families, discriminatory work environments or violence they have experienced. We send them our message of love and hope,” said Ruth Borgfjord, founder of Queer Sisterhood Cluj. All events during the Cluj Pride festival will take place in compliance with public health measures in force.
