Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Signed Laws to Ban ‘LGBT Propaganda’

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has signed laws banning ‘LGBT propaganda’ in the country. “The law I am signing does not reflect current, temporary, changing ideas and ideologies, but is based on common sense, historical experience and centuries-old Christian, Georgian and European values,” Papuashvili, a member of the ruling Georgian Dream, said. He called the laws restricting LGBT+ rights “protecting the most precious thing for a human being - family and children,” svoboda.org reported. Critics believe that Georgian Dream is using homophobia as a tool in its electoral campaign, while encouraging restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, as well as censorship in culture and media. Georgian parliamentary elections will be held on 26 October. According to the polls, Georgian Dream is again in the lead. According to the adopted bills, LGBT persons in Georgia will be banned from marrying and adopting children, undergoing transgender transition surgeries and changing gender markers on documents, as well as from talking about LGBT+ people in schools and the media. MPs also banned queer-themed gatherings, including the popular Dignity Marches and festivals, which have been attacked by homophobes in recent years. In September, 84 MPs voted in favor of the bills, while no one spoke against them: the opposition is boycotting the work of the outgoing parliament and was not present at the session. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili did not sign the bills, but she did not veto them either. The raft of legislation should now enter into force in 60 days. The bills were sharply criticized in the European Union, where Georgia is a candidate for accession. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that such initiatives “further derail the country’s path to the EU”. International organizations are also worried that as it stands, the bills will contribute to discrimination against LGBT+ people in the country.