Georgia Approves Law Curbing LGBTQ Rights Amidst Election Campaign
The Georgian Parliament has passed a law that would severely restrict LGBTQ rights. The bill, titled “Family Values and the Protection of Minors,” was approved in its final reading on Tuesday, CNN reports.
The law grants authorities powers to ban LGBTQ events and public displays of the rainbow flag, and to censor films and books deemed to promote “non-traditional” values. It also reaffirms the existing ban on same-sex marriage and bans gender reassignment surgery.
Proponents of the law, primarily members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, argue it is necessary to safeguard traditional moral standards in Georgia, where the Orthodox Church holds major influence.
President Salome Zourabichvili, a critic of Georgian Dream, has vowed to veto the legislation. However, the ruling party and its allies possess enough seats in parliament to override her decision.
The issue of LGBTQ rights is highly sensitive in Georgia, where polls show a majority disapproving of same-sex relationships. The constitution explicitly prohibits same-sex marriage.
The bill’s passage comes amidst a growing rift between Georgia and Western countries, with the ruling party deepening ties with Russia. This shift has been accompanied by the recent passage of a “foreign agents” law that sparked protests earlier this year.
