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The vote, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, was motivated by a petition launched by a civil society group called the Coalition for the Family and signed by nearly 3 million Romanians.
The constitution currently states that "the family is based on the freely agreed marriage of the spouses, their full equality, as well as on the right and duty of the parents to provide education, education and training. The education of their children, "according to a coalition. for the family translation.
Romanians will vote on the desirability of reducing the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman rather than "spouses".
The Coalition for the Family, which describes its members as "defending Christian and traditional values," argues that constitutional change is necessary to "preserve marriage" and defend the family.
The vote requires a turnout of 30%, or more than 5 million people, to be worthwhile, according to the Reuters news agency.
Romania, which has decriminalized homosexuality only in 2001, does not currently allow same-sex marriage. But the proposed amendment to the constitution will likely make any future change much more difficult.
More than 40 members of the European Parliament wrote to Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă this week to express dismay at the referendum.
"This redefinition of the family can harm the children of all families by promoting the message that single-parent families, unmarried partners with children, grandparents who raise their grandchildren, rainbow families and all other families that do not fall under the narrow definition proposed by referendum do not deserve to be recognized and protected, "the letter says.
"Authorizing this referendum adds validity to anti-LGBTI rhetoric and encourages hate speech and violence against LGBTI people.We can not allow this legal deadlock to place LGBTI individuals, including LGBTI children and children of rainbow families, in a vulnerable position in flagrant violation of the fundamental right to non-discrimination enshrined in European human rights law. "
Lawmakers also asked why the ruling Social Democratic Party had made the unusual decision to hold the referendum over two days instead of one. "We are concerned that this could be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of the referendum, ensuring that the 30% turnout is achieved," they wrote.
The rights group Amnesty International has warned that this change could result in a violation of human rights law and aggravate discrimination against the gay community in Romania.
"If approved, these changes would mark a dark day for human rights and equality in Romania," said Barbora Černušáková, Amnesty International's researcher on Romania.
"This referendum risks giving rise to homophobia and, if it is approved and implemented, would not only violate Romania's obligations under international human rights law and of Union law, but would also have serious consequences on the lives of families that are not based on marriage.It is an attempt to deny them the right to life of family."
