Tens of thousands of people joined marches for LGBTQ+ rights in the capitals of Greece, Romania and Bulgaria at the weekend – but right-wing traditionalists also held counter-rallies in Bucharest and Sofia.
Eleni Stamatoukou
Thousands of people gathered for the annual Athens Pride event in the Greek capital on Saturday. The mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, opened the event by stating: “This is the Athens we want: open and inclusive.”
Thousands of Romanians also took to the streets for the Bucharest Pride celebration on Saturday, calling for equal rights, inclusion and greater visibility for LGBTQ+ people.
But the far-right SOS Romania party led by Diana Sosoaca, a member of the European Parliament, held an anti-LGBTQ+ ‘March for Normality’ in Bucharest on the same day, attended by hundreds of people carrying Orthodox Christian icons and crosses.
Sofia Pride participants also encountered opposition on Saturday from a counter-rally backed by religious, nationalist and conservative groups titled ‘March of the Family’ in the Bulgarian capital. It received support from members of the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party and was attended by Orthodox Patriarch Daniil and Princess Kalina Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
Amid an increased police presence, thousands joined the Sofia Pride march through the centre of the city. Revellers were entertained by a performance by Eurovision Song Contest 2026 winner Dara, singing her hit ‘Bangaranga’.
