Dracula's Guide to Romania

Are you visiting Romania and concerned about expressing your eternal queerness? Here are some things to take into consideration.

Bucharest and Cluj have the largest communities

The community gravitates toward bigger cities, which seems to be a general rule, not only in Romania. Cluj and Bucharest have the largest communities, but I would also add to this list Timisoara, which is slowly growing. Timisoara had its first pride parade last year, it is a city closer to Western society due to its position on the map and seems to be a promising safe spot for the future.

Image by https://www.acceptromania.ro/

It isn’t an unsafe country, but it’s better to be cautious

Romanians are known for their friendliness and hospitality, but some of them seem to draw a line when certain behaviors that don’t go well with tradition and religion. This seems to occur especially in rural places and small towns, where Orthodox beliefs are taken more seriously.

It is no surprise since same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in Romania in 2001. Even though 22 years seems like a long time ago, changing certain aggressive conservative behavior requires a change in mentality, which is supported mostly by younger generations.

Image by https://romania.europalibera.org/

There aren’t that many options in terms of nightlife

Pride month is the richest in terms of activities, while during the year there are usually 1-2 nightclubs in bigger cities open during the weekend. Those clubs are also focused mainly on the gay community, while lesbians seem to be more timid and not so present.

Here are some popular choices across bigger cities:

• Bucharest – Q Club
• Cluj – Delirio

Acceptance towards people who listen to manele is a big thing

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Manele is a topic in Romania that had to be addressed. Even though most of the population listens to it actively, there is a certain stigma that comes with it. People who listen to this genre are considered to be uneducated, since the lyrics are a bit superficial. Manele supports the poverty mentality we often see in the Balkans. It defines happiness and success by the amount of money you have, the women you attract and the expensive cars you own.

The LGBT community across the world has been highly influenced by pop culture, so it’s no surprise that there is a movement. What I find curious is that manele supports traditional values, but this thing did not stay in the way of it. The reason behind it might be that we are shaped by the music we listen to during childhood and adolescence, not to mention that during this timespan we are highly influenced by the environment and people around us.

But is it such a bad thing to be a manele listener? The music that we listen to doesn’t define our whole existence. Even though the lyrics are questionable, some people are drawn mostly toward the beat and view it in a more humorous way. This satirical way is approached especially during drag acts….and let’s be honest, even if we like it or not it’s a big part of the Romanian culture.

Here is a typical manele song to get you more accustomed:

Image by Freepik