History
ACCEPT is a member of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and of the International Lesbian and Gay Youth Organization (IGLYO).
In 1994 Bucharest Acceptance Group was founded, aiming to promote an open, reasonable dialogue on the complex topic of same-sex relationships.
In May 1995 Bucharest Acceptance Group organised in Bucharest a symposium titled “Homosexuality - a Human Right?”. The symposium was attended by Government and Parliament officials, and representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church and of other LGBT and human rights organisations. One of the positive results of the symposium was that the small group of volunteers and sympathisers decided to found a stable, independent organisation.
On October 25, 1996 ACCEPT (Bucharest Acceptance Group) was officially registered as a human rights non-governmental organisation.
In 1997 ACCEPT launched a national and international campaign for the repeal of Article 200 of the Romanian Penal Code, which incriminated same-sex relationships. As a result of this campaign, the legislative process leading to the repeal of article 200 was completed on January 30, 2002.
In May 1999, ACCEPT was awarded the “EGALITE” (”Equality for Gays and Lesbians in the European Institutions”) Prize at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, for its overall activity in defence of the rights and liberties of the LGBT people in Romania. Also, in 1999 ACCEPT was nominated for the Sacharov Prize of the European Parliament.
Between October 4 and 8, ACCEPT organised in Bucharest the 22nd European Conference of ILGA (The International Lesbian and Gay Association), titled “ACCEPTing Diversity”.
In 2004 ACCEPT organized the first Romanian gay festival, the Festival of Diversity, an event consisting of a gay film festival, a photo and posters exhibition, book launches, public debates and a gay party.
On 28 May, 2005 ACCEPT organized the first Romanian GayPride in Bucharest, an very important moment for the Romanian LGBT Movement. The city initially refused to authorize the parade, telling organizers that it could not guarantee the security of participants because of soccer games taking place at the same time.The change of heart by the Bucharest administration comes after Romania’s President Traian Basescu, criticized the city’s initial denial. This event produced various reactions in the Romanian mass-media.
In 2006, with the occasion of the GayFEST which had the slogan - Same rights, same obligations -, ACCEPT put on the public agenda the issue of marriage/civil partnership for same sex couples.
The tradition went on also in 2007…The 3rd edition of the GayFest started on 4th of June with a press conference like in the previous years which promoted the idea of a tradition when it comes to GayFest.
There were organized debates, exhibitions, a workshop, a theater play and a film festival. A great success was the exhibition – What are doing in bed the gays and the lesbians? – but not least the debates which had as themes – The parliamentary groups and discrimination – and - Religion and democracy -.
In 2007, GayFest offered to the LGBT persons and not only, the biggest party of the year and a colorful march. The slogan of the 2007 event was – Celebrate diversity! Respect the rights! -.
