Becali's Religious Counter-Protest at Bucharest Pride Sparks Debate

Bucharest Pride 2023: Gigi Becali's Religious Procession Counters LGBTQ+ Parade Bucharest, Romania – On June 8th, 2025, a counter-protest to the Bucharest Pride parade unfolded along Victory Avenue. Controversial businessman Gigi Becali, accompanied by numerous priests, organized a religious procession, simultaneously with the LGBTQ+ event. Becali's actions sparked considerable debate and media attention. The video shows Becali carrying a large cross, while priests chanted prayers and sprinkled holy water. One eyewitness, observing from the sidelines, commented, "It was a very tense atmosphere. Two very different groups, with very different beliefs, occupying the same space." Becali himself, speaking to reporters, stated, "We are here to purify this place, to pray for the souls of those who are lost." His words reflect the deep-seated religious and social divisions within Romanian society. The event underscores the ongoing tension between traditional values and the growing LGBTQ+ rights movement in Romania. The juxtaposition of the two processions brought these conflicting viewpoints into sharp focus.