Place: Auróra, 1084 Budapest, Auróra u. 11.
Date: 10. 22. 2021, 17:00-20:00

The first roundtable within the Roma LGBTQ+ 2019 project, whose main goal is to highlight not only discrimination by the majority society on the basis of ethnicity and sexual orientation, but also the expulsion from the Romani community because of sexual orientation. What is the perception of LGBTQ+ Roma within the LGBTQ+ community? What is the role of Roma and LGBTQ+ NGOs in improving the situation of the Roma LGBTQ+ minority? We are looking for answers to these questions.

 

We have invited three speakers to the round table discussion, Márton Joci as a Roma LGBTQ+ activist, Viktoria Radványi representing Budapest Pride, who unfortunately could not attend due to health problems, but will be replaced by Máté Hegedűs from Budapest Pride and finally Anna Daroczi from Phiren Amenca. We chose them because LGBTQ+ Roma people represent not only the Roma but also the LGBTQ+ community. During the discussion, Máté Hegedűs, on behalf of Budapest Pride, spoke about how different the situation of LGBTQ+ Roma is within the queer community and how multiple discrimination Roma people can also face within the LGBTQ+ community.

 

During the discussion, we discussed the role of Budapest Pride and how and with what examples we can help the situation of Roma LGBTQ+ people. Anna Daroczi, speaking on behalf of the International Roma Organization, spoke about intersectionality in Roma organizations and LGBTQ+ aspects in Roma organizations, as well as the fact that in recent years there has been a clear improvement in the representation of queer Roma people in at least some organizations. Unfortunately, despite this, the inclusivity of Roma organisations is still very low. As an activist, Márton Joci highlighted the interview from a very important perspective, as both Roma persons and LGBTQ+ people consider the role of Roma people and LGBTQ+ organisations and their possible cooperation in the future as not only Roma people but also queer organisations have a big responsibility. Márton Joci, who is working in Roma organisations for the first time, believes that LGBTQ+ inclusivity is more present in Roma organisations than in queer organisations. He saw reasons for this in the contradictions within LGBTQ+ communities and also in prejudices about social class.

 

During the discussion, the emphasis on social class was very important, because in addition to intersectionality and multiple identities, it is also important to make judgements based on social class. Even though the general perception of Roma LGBTQ+ people is equally problematic by the LGBTQ+ community, it is very difficult to describe discrimination against queer Roma people in more detail with regard to both objects of discrimination. In a minority of cases there is a noticeable improvement, but unfortunately the overall picture is not very good. Budapest Pride, Phiren Amenca and Divers Youth Network have clearly tried and will continue to try to ensure progress in social inclusion and mutual partnership and cooperation based on understanding not only from the majority society but also from minority groups.