Europe

Court to rule on same-sex marriage in conservative Romania

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Clay Hamilton, left, and Adrian Coman, a US-Romanian gay couple who got married in Belgium and seek legal recognition of their status in Romania smile during an interview with the Associated Press in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, July 22, 2016. Commentators predict the court, scheduled to rule Tuesday on the marriage of U.S. graphic designer Claibourn Robert Hamilton and Romanian human rights activist Adrian Coman, will vote against the motion, amid opposition from the influential Romanian Orthodox Church and public disapproval of same-sex relationships.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

FILE- In this Wednesday, July 20, 2016 file photo, a gay rights activist speaks to gendarmes during a rally supporting same sex marriages in Bucharest, Romania. Commentators predict the court, scheduled to rule Tuesday on the marriage of U.S. graphic designer Claibourn Robert Hamilton and Romanian human rights activist Adrian Coman, will vote against the motion, amid opposition from the influential Romanian Orthodox Church and public disapproval of same-sex relationships(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE- In this Saturday, June 25, 2016 file photo, Anti-gay protesters hold a banner that reads "The traditional family is in danger - Let's protect it" during a march ahead of a gay pride parade in Bucharest, Romania. Commentators predict the court, scheduled to rule Tuesday on the marriage of U.S. graphic designer Claibourn Robert Hamilton and Romanian human rights activist Adrian Coman, will vote against the motion, amid opposition from the influential Romanian Orthodox Church and public disapproval of same-sex relationships. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) (The Associated Press)

A same-sex couple has asked Romania's Constitutional Court to legally recognize them as married, which would be a landmark and surprising ruling. Commentators predict the court will reject their case this week.

Political scientist Cristian Parvulescu on Monday predicted that "the court will make a political rather than a judicial ruling." Journalist Dan Turturica says it would be "revolutionary" for the court to recognize the union.

U.S. graphic designer Claibourn Robert Hamilton and Romanian rights activist Adrian Coman are seeking to be recognized as married — a position opposed by the influential Romanian Orthodox Church and most of the public. A ruling is expected Tuesday.

The couple's lawyer Iustina Ionescu said she hoped the court would "put an end to homophobic sentiments and apply the constitution equally."