Georgia’s parliament advanced a set of bills on Thursday that would impose sweeping restrictions on LGBTQ+ freedoms and rights, echoing similar laws passed in Russia.
The legislation, introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party, includes bans on promoting same-sex relationships and gender reassignment surgeries. The measures could potentially outlaw LGBTQ+ pride events and public displays of the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag.
If enacted, the package would also prohibit non-heterosexual individuals from adopting children and prevent changes to gender markers on official IDs. Public gatherings that support same-sex relationships and the broadcast of intimate scenes involving same-sex couples would also be banned.
The development follows the recent adoption of an anti-nongovernmental organization, “foreign influence” law, which triggered widespread protests and drew criticism from Western countries.
The package received initial approval with 78 votes from Georgian Dream lawmakers, while opposition parties boycotted the session.
Parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili plans further readings of the bills during the autumn session before the general election on October 26.
He argues the measures are necessary to combat what he terms "LGBT propaganda," which he believes undermines traditional values.
In deeply religious Georgia, where the Orthodox Church wields considerable influence, there is widespread disapproval of same-sex relationships, as reflected in surveys. Same-sex marriage is already prohibited by the country's constitution.
These legislative actions come amid protests against the anti-NGO law and have raised concerns among the European Union and the United States about Georgia's political direction. The EU cautioned that such laws could stall Georgia's efforts to join the EU, criticizing them as contrary to European values.
The Georgian Dream, once aligned with Western ideals after gaining independence from the Soviet Union, has shifted to more conservative positions in recent years. This shift has led to accusations of closer ties with Russia and has raised doubts about Georgia's EU aspirations.
Opposition parties view the bills as an attempt to attract conservative voters before the elections. Giorgi Tabagari, founder of Tbilisi Pride, warned of a bleak future for LGBTQ+ Georgians if the bills become law, describing it as "gloomy."
Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
