In its 1999 entry for Bulgaria, the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) World Legal Survey, citing the Bulgarian homosexual organization Bulgayria, stated that

In spite of the negative attitude of the society towards gays and the sexual anonymity of most of the gays the situation has changed last several years. Several issues of a gay magazine were issued, gay books were published, gay dating agencies were established, several gay bars, clubs, discos, sex shops were opened. The independent private media inform about gay events, the national and the private television cast films with gay themes, and gay movies are shown in the cinema. A lot of famous Bulgarians confessed in public that they were gay.

This information is corroborated by Gay Explorer, a travel directory for homosexual tourists:

Under the communist regime, homosexuals were not visible in public life with homosexuality having been decriminalized in 1968. The age of consent for gay men and women is 18, but just 14 for heterosexuals. Although a conservative attitude towards homosexuality is still very common among many Bulgarians, a lot has changed for the better in recent years. Gays and Lesbians have become much more visible in the media. In many larger cities, small but lively gay scenes have emerged (n.d.).

According to Bulgayria's Website, there are as many as four gay clubs in Sofia, along with a "sex shop" known as Flamingo's (n.d.). The Website further states that Sofia's Orlov Most ("Eagles Bridge") and Vazrazhdane Square are gay cruising areas (ibid.).

According to Gay Explorer, law enforcement personnel "still" engage in "inadequate behavior towards Gays and Lesbians who are subject to discrimination from other sides as well" (n.d.). This information is corroborated by the President of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, who stated in a 4 January 2000 interview that

Homosexuality is not a crime in Bulgaria. However, we are aware of a number of cases where police have entered premises and harassed homosexuals, have beaten them, extorted money from them. This is happening in Sofia and in other places. However, it happens occasionally, I wouldn't say it is systematic.

No information on state protection available to gays or lesbians could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, according to a 1 February 1999 report by AFP, "several dozen" Bulgarian homosexuals published a petition in 24 Tchassa, a Sofia newspaper, "demanding the right to marry their partners if the state considers itself a democracy." The report further stated that the authors "claim to have support in Parliament and regret that gay deputies hide their sexual preferences" (ibid.).

No information on the existence of state programs or initiatives designed to promote respect for homosexuals' human rights could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, according to the Website of the Sofia office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the office of the United Nations in Bulgaria coordinated a number of consciousness-raising activities in 1998 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (n.d.). According the Website, among the initiatives was a project in which

the United Nations co-operated with the Higher Institute for Training of Police Officers and Scientific Research to translate, from English into Bulgarian, the pocket book of "International Human Rights Standards for Law Enforcement Officials", published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The translation was carried out under the technical supervision of lecturers from the Institute. Ten thousand copies of the booklet have been printed and distributed to all police officers in Bulgaria (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 1 February 1999. "Bulgarian Gays Demand Right to Marry: Petition." (NEXIS)

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Sofia. 4 January 2000. Telephone interview with the President.

Bulgayria. n.d. "Bulgaria Gay Guide." http://www.bulgayria.com/body/21.asp [Accessed 20 Dec. 1999]

Gay Explorer. n.d. "Bulgaria." http://www.gayexplorer.com/europe/bulgaria/index.html [Accessed 21 Jan. 2000]

International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). 1999. World Legal Survey. "Bulgaria." http://www.ilga.org/Information/legal_survey/europe/bulgaria.htm [Accessed 17 Dec. 1999]

United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Sofia. n.d. "Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)." http://www.undp.online.bg/hr/.htm [Accessed 24 Jan. 2000]

Bulgaria News Agency (BTA) [Sofia]. Aug. 1999-Nov. 1999.

IRB databases.

LEXIS-NEXIS.

News.Bg [Sofia]. Jan. 1999-Jan. 2000.

Rex Wockner News Service. Dec. 1998-Oct. 1999.

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International.

Human Rights Watch.

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

International Helsinki Federation.

United Nations Development Program, Sofia.