In a critical moment for Georgia’s LGBT+ community, President Salome Zourabichvili is urged not to sign the “On Family Values and the Protection of Minors” legislative package into law. The bill, proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, includes sweeping measures that restrict LGBT+ rights, including a ban on gender recognition and trans-specific healthcare, and prohibitions on same-sex adoption and public demonstrations.
This legislation mirrors Russia’s approach, with amendments to 18 laws targeting freedom of expression and LGBT+ visibility. It also imposes mandatory “biological sex” markers on documents, impacting both Georgian citizens and foreign residents. Human rights organizations warn that it could lead to discrimination, family separations, and violence against the LGBT+ community.
The legislation arrives just ahead of Georgia’s national elections in October 2024, raising concerns that the ruling party is scapegoating LGBT+ people for political gain. Significant opposition has risen across Georgian society, with mass protests against the law. Many fear it will undermine Georgia’s path toward EU accession, which requires respect for fundamental human rights.
The international community, including the EU and human rights organizations like ILGA-Europe, calls on the President to reject this bill. They urge Georgia to respect human rights and reject laws that threaten democratic freedoms and the lives of the LGBT+ community.
more info: www.ilga-europe.org
You may also like
-
Chille Deman and the Pride That Changed Brussels
In a city where languages overlap and identities intersect, some stories become landmarks. The story
-
Leuven Pride returns with a stronger focus on safety and access
Leuven Pride is back on Saturday 26 September 2026 for its third edition, turning the
-
Berlin Pride Attack: Our Solidarity Is With the Victims, Their Loved Ones and the LGBTQIA+ Community
A vehicle drove into the crowd at Berlin Pride on Saturday, killing at least one
-
Acte de Présence: a Queer-leaning Château Festival Turning Mayenne into a Shared Dream
Some festivals sell escape. Acte de Présence seems more interested in belonging: four days, one
-
Rainbow Cities Network: When Local Governments Decide Queer Lives Deserve Actual Policy
We talk a lot about “queer‑friendly cities”, but what happens when municipal governments decide to