Romanian lawmakers will consider
whether a proposed referendum on amending the constitution to ban gay
marriage will be held next month.
According to the
AP, two Social Democratic Party senators put forward a draft bill
on Thursday. Almost 3 million people signed a petition calling for
amending the constitution to define marriage as a heterosexual union.
Romania's constitution currently does
not reference gender as it relates to marriage.
On Friday, Liviu Dragnea, chairman of
the Social Democrats, Romania's largest political party, asked his
colleagues to withdraw the bill, saying that the issue should not be
mixed with the December 11 parliamentary elections.
The Romanian Orthodox Church has backed
the proposed ban.
Supporters say the change is needed to
head off a possible ruling favoring marriage equality from Romania's
Constitutional Court, which is currently considering a petition from
a male gay couple who want their Belgium marriage recognized in
Romania.