Fragmentation and Resilience: Changing Social Spaces for Lesbian and Bisexual Women, Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Individuals in Romania

Romania has begun experiencing several shifts in their cultural values. The policies affecting and attitudes toward the LGBT+ population have become more positive, largely due to pressure from international bodies and organizations. This research is a qualitative focus-group and interview-based study which examines the context in which LGBTQ+ individuals in Romania lead their lives. Themes discussed include community, bi-phobia, trans-phobia, social media, virtual spaces, activism, bars and clubs, and experiences with therapeutic resources such as counseling. This research was conducted for completion of the requirements for the Global Health Scholars interdisciplinary undergraduate program at Yale University, and funded by the Solomon Research Fellowship in LGBT Studies, the Robert C Bates Summer Fellowship for International Internships, the Pierson College Richter Summer Fellowship award, and the Global Health Scholar Seed Funding Award. This research was mentored by Professors John Pachankis, PhD, and Corina Lelutiu-Weinberger, PhD, MPhil, and supported by Professor Alice M. Miller, JD.