Ex-Soviet state adopts ‘LGBT propaganda’ law

Georgian parliament speaker signs anti-LGBTQ law after president refuses to sign it

Georgian parliament speaker signs law curbing LGBT rights

Georgian parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday signed into law a controversial "family values" bill that allegedly curtails LGBTQ+ rights in the country.

Critics argue that the legislation mirrors similar laws adopted in neighboring Russia and is an attempt by Georgian Dream to boost support among conservative voters ahead of the October 26 parliamentary election.

This comes a day after Pre. Salome Zourabichvili, a critic of the governing Georgian Dream party, "refused to sign the bill [into law] and returned to parliament without vetoing it."

Guardian

Reuters

The law has drawn criticism from Western countries and human rights advocates, who view it as part of a turn towards authoritarianism and alignment with Russia in a country that had previously leaned towards the West since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Georgian Dream, founded by the country's richest man, remains the most popular single party against a divided opposition, though it has lost ground since 2020 when it won almost 50% of the vote.

The legislation, introduced by the ruling party, bans gender transition, same-sex marriages, adoptions by non-heterosexual couples, and public depiction of LGBTQ+ relations and people in the media.

Al Jazeera

Newsweek

The passage of this law follows the adoption of a "foreign influence" law earlier this year, which requires media and nongovernmental organizations to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad, further straining Georgia's relations with the West.

It defines marriage as a voluntary union of men and women for family creation and declares May 17 a day of family "sanctity" and "respect for parents."

Georgian Dream, founded by billionaire businessman and former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili, remains the most popular single party in the country.

The passage of this law follows the adoption of a "foreign influence" law earlier this year, which requires media and nongovernmental organizations to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they secure over 20% of their funding from overseas.

This anti-LGBTQ+ law further marginalizes an already vulnerable community and could lead to increased violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. It's a cynical attempt by the ruling party to shore up support among conservative groups at the expense of human rights and Georgia's European aspirations.

Georgia Enacts Controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ Law

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Georgia Enacts Controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ Law

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