Hey Canada! 25 Ianuarie 2020

O scrisoare in engleza, pentru ca mergem la Ottawa si Montreal in martie.

30 years after Romania became a young democracy, Roma people are still running the risk of being seen as 'abrasive' or 'dangerous' if they ask to be treated the same as Romanians - despite countless policies and laws that confer us equal rights to an education, work, dignity, happiness.

If we are not only Roma but also trans, or poor, or disabled, or raised in an orphanage, racism will be amplified by transphobia. classism or ableism - often leading to violence, murder, or abuse at the hands of the very entities who are supposed to protect all citizens.

Some would contend that this attitude remains prevalent because we were slaves for circa 500 years - from the 1400s to the end of the 1800s. Nazi persecution and extermination of Roma people during the Holocaust was quickly followed by a half a century long Communist dictatorship, under which all policies were tailored with a view to completely assimilate us. The 90s brought democracy to Romania, but also political opportunism, populism - and nationalism. Many Roma have had to migrate to more 'civilized' countries, in hopes they would find respect and safety. The gap seems to be feeding on itself, getting wider and wider, instead of narrower. Many Roma trans women have gone into sex work for lack of other options, and continue to be abused and killed in 21st century Europe by customers and police alike. Exoticization is still seen as benevolent and helpful. White cishetero folk cry out indignantly when one points out to the racism in things like 'i wish i had that sort of fire in me' - which they mean as a compliment, but which does nothing but consolidate the popular misconception that Roma folk are more passionate and fiery, therefore also capable of murder more impulsively, 'by nature.'

Despite consistent efforts to address and alleviate the great injustices inflicted on First Nations by white colonialism, especially in the last couple of decades, there is still a large gap between white cis-hetero Canadians and First Nations queer and two-spirit people.

But there may also be much to learn from the Canadian experience when it comes to policy design and institutional practices informed by an awareness of the intersectional identities of First Nations queer folk, and a desire to make things right regardless of the gender, sex, age, socio-economic or ability status of a kid in school or a patient in a hospital, or a client of social services.

Our long-term goal is to write a policy paper for better inclusion of queer Roma people on the labour market, as well as better protection and support of queer Roma students in the public system of education.

Bringing Romanian chocolates to Ottawa and Montreal in March, looking forward to sharing them with as many of you as we can <3