Conclusion, Part II

With this blog, Goran and I have tried to find the principle differences between gay rights in the countries of the European Union, specially the situation of gay rights in Bulgaria. We have compared the development of these rights in Europe. The result is that every country has its own laws. So each one regulated gay rights there.

At the beginning of the semester, I knew that the situation of gay rights in Bulgaria was not as tolerant that in Spain. But I understood what is going on because in my country, Spain, ten years ago the situation was very similar. If somebody saw two boys or two girls kissing each other people were very surprise. But, nowadays, nobody is surprised. After months talking with Bulgarian people, despite that is not easy, I am positive with the progress that will come here.

 It is true that in Bulgaria, the situation has to progress to be more tolerant. They are the last in the gay right of Europeans. But not all is as negative. As we explain in the video this country has made a big effort to progress, despite it needs more to achieve being a tolerance country.

 Time. That is what Bulgaria needs to understand homosexuality and accept it. It is not going to be easy because some Bulgarians (most of them) do not admit this sexuality orientation. However, as a European member has to follow the Union’s ideal, and inside this, there is the necessity to accept relations between people from the same sex.

Conclusion, Part I

So after several months of writing this blog, Tamara and I have found different bad as well as good signs concerning the development of equal rights for gay people in Bulgaria. So far, the situation is not very comparable with that of most other European Union members: there is no recognition of civil unions, gays have no adoption rights, and are not even recognized and protected by the minority-protection law.

However, it is not all that bad. Although the stigma preservers, the few largest cities in Bulgaria now have gay clubs, and there is a gay-rights organization in the capital, Sofia. The access to internet has made things easier for many people, who can look for information and support online, both on Bulgarian and foreign websites. And the most promising of all is the progress of the gay pride parade in Sofia, which has been met with decreasing resistance and violence since its appearance in 2008.

A lot of progress needs to be done. The general population’s attitude continues to be very negative. All Bulgarians admit them, and some even take pride that homosexuality I not accepted in their country, as they few it as unnatural and dangerous. However, the Pride Parade shows that attitudes are changing, if not in the entire country than at least in the biggest cities. Under the pressure of the European Union, it is only a matter of time before Bulgaria develops its civil laws, as it has been made clear from Brussels that this is the Union’s ideal. Until then, we can wait until this development occurs naturally, so it is comfortable for all people who live in this changing and developing nation.

Goran