Bulgaria has been a democratic country for almost 30 years, after the fall of the USSR back in 1989. Since it became a democratic country it joined the EU back in 2007. Bulgaria was and is keen to become more like its western counterparts, its population has weaved itself in with the rest of Europe, with many family members now living and working in other countries, for a better quality of life.
Whilst Bulgaria is very open and welcoming to people about their Beautiful country, they are very delayed regarding other issues compared to western Europe. One of the current problems being the recognition of *LGBT* rights in the country.
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<center>*(Credit Wikipedia)*</center>
# Is it legal to be Gay in Bulgaria?
Being *Gay or Lesbian* is legal and it has been since 1966 when a group of experts had decided so because they believed that being Gay was an illness, an the people should not be punished as a result of it. (Happy to say this is not seen the same way now but we are not there yet.)
However two years prior 23 people were arrested and punished for being in a same sex relationship, this was due to the USSR wanting to give the people the impression, that the west of Europe were leading decadent lives and that there was no place for such acts in the union. The legal age of consent regardless of sex is 14, which is lower than its western counterparts many countries have made it 16.
# Is it legal to be Trans in Bulgaria.
Yes it it legal to be *transgender* in Bulgaria. However interestingly enough if a person has fully gone through their transition from one sex to another, all their documents by law must be changed including their birth certificate. Whilst other countries will allow you to change your name and identification but will not allow you to change your sex on your official documents. Transgender people have automatic right to protection against discrimination, although many choose to remain invisible, we will talk a little more about that later.
# Same Sex Marriage in Bulgaria.
<center>*(Credit Pixabay)*</center>

Same sex Marriages are not recognised in Bulgaria. Its main religion is Orthodox and the church is very much against homosexuality it holds tremendous power against the majority of its people who are deeply religious. Whilst the EU has applied pressure for Bulgaria to look into the possibility of this, no such action has been taken.
Interestingly enough an enquiry was made about the possibility back in 2015, however following a change in government in October of the same year the enquiry went no further.
In January 2018 a Bulgarian same sex couple, who had married in the United Kingdom, had taken their case to the administration court in Sofia the capital of Bulgaria. They demanded that they wanted their marriage to be recognised and for their identification to be adjusted accordingly. However the case was dismissed due to the reason that the ceremony was not conducted in the country, and marriage was recognised between a man and a woman, in order to raise children.
# Can LGBT people adopt in Bulgaria.
Gay couples are banned from adopting children in Bulgaria, but interestingly single people are allowed to adopt regardless of sexual orientation, however single men are rarely allowed to adopt. At the same time lesbian couples who want to go through IVF or artificial insemination are not allowed to go through treatment. These options are only mainly available to opposite sex married couples.
# Discrimination against LGBT

<center>*(Credit Pixabay)*</center>
Discrimination against LGBT has been outlawed since 2004 with a revision in 2015 to protect LGBT people. However there are hate crimes in Bulgaria as there are in other countries. However even though there are discriminatory rights, hate crimes are often never investigated by authorities.
The most famous hate crime was a 25 year old student back in 2009 who was brutally murdered and accused of being gay. When the authorities questioned the subjects they said that they had made it their mission to cleanse the park of gay people. It would seem apparent that the largest area for hate crimes are in the countries capital.
# Pride
<center>*(Credit Pixabay)*</center>
Since 2008 Bulgaria has held a pride march in the city. The first year they held it, the community were opposed by the orthodox church and nationalists who hurled stones at the 120 supporters. Various arrests were made following the events, but this did not deter the people.
Every year since a pride march has been held and now they receive support from the embassies from many different countries. However as yet no Bulgarian authority has made an appearance to support the people fighting for the rights of LGBT.
# What is it like to be LGBT in Bulgaria.

<Center>*(Credit Pixabay)*</Center>
Living in Bulgaria as a gay man is interesting, whilst many will read this article and be shocked at how far behind the country it. The references given have come from different sources looking at being gay in general. Whilst I do not hide my sexuality, at the same time I don’t flaunt it neither I never have. My partner and I have never walked hand in hand, we never chose to it is not us and has never been us.
When we talk to our friends and neighbours we have never told them about our relationship at the same time they have never asked us. If they did I often wonder what would happen if I were to break the news to them and how they would react, realistically speaking I think a large amount of Bulgarians are disaproving of same sex relationships. But if they cannot see it then they have no objection, realistically I can understand why even after 30 years this is such a shock to them, because they are not yet caught up with the rest of europe.
This also comes down to generations of people so the oldest generation will be firmly against the thought of such acts, whilst it is harder for younger generations to be more accepting because unlike other countries there is a huge lack of other cultures from other countries living here.
I knew the risk I was taking when I moved here, but like I say at the same time I did not plan to move to Bulgaria with the intention of waving a huge pink flag. We have friends who live here who are also gay and come from another country. They moved for the same reasons as us, to live a quiet peaceful life.
We wanted security in housing we have that, we wanted affordable medicine we have that. We wanted long hot summers and white christmas’s we have that. Its not perfect but it is not the worst country either when it comes to discrimination. So yes in my opinion the iron curtain still shrouds our rainbow here, but there are now places in the country where there are gay communities and pubs and clubs have since opened Bulgaria has come a long way in 30 years and it continues to do so. But in order to be accepted is down to the people and right now they are not ready. Until Bulgaria is brought up to speed with the rest of the world, they will never be ready. It’s not perfect but its not the worst life in the world either, we are comfortable with who we are and we are comfortable with our life here. I believe that because we lived this life before in the early 90’s up to 2007 when civil partnerships were made legal, so that we could protect our assets should our partner pass on.
I can only see that in time it will become more acceptable and more tolerated and eventually legalized, we are not there yet we are a long way off. But as long as we make progress where ever we are in the world regardless of who we are and where we are, discrimination is everywhere even where LGBT is fully legal.
We just have to keep fighting that and hope that one day we will all be truly equals.
**References.**
[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Bulgaria)
[Sofia Globe](https://sofiaglobe.com/2017/04/24/rights-for-same-sex-couples-in-europe-bulgaria-continues-to-be-sorry-sight/)
[Novinite.](http://www.novinite.com/articles/157695/Anti-Gay+Amendment+Discussed+in+Bulgaria%27s+Parliament)
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