Georgia’s parliament speaker signed a controversial bill into law on Thursday that mirrors Russian legislation aimed at restricting the rights of LGBTQ individuals, despite warnings from the European Union.
This decision follows a refusal by Georgia’s pro-Western president, Salome Zurabishvili, to endorse the bill just a day prior.
The new law, titled “On Family Values and the Protection of Minors,” shares similarities with Moscow’s “gay propaganda” law, prohibiting gender reassignment and nullifying same-sex marriages conducted both domestically and abroad. Speaker Shalva Papuashvili announced the signing on Facebook, stating, “In conformity with the constitution, I signed today the law which Salome Zurabishvili didn’t sign.”
The ruling Georgian Dream party pushed the legislation through parliament last month, with opposition members boycotting the vote. This move has heightened tensions ahead of critical parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26. Papuashvili defended the measure, claiming it is rooted in “common sense, historical experience, and centuries-old Christian, Georgian, and European values,” asserting that it protects the rights of all citizens.
However, human rights organizations and Western nations have condemned the law as discriminatory, arguing that it fosters a hostile environment for LGBTQ individuals. The bill’s passage follows a tragic incident last month, where a prominent transgender woman was fatally stabbed, raising concerns over safety for LGBTQ communities in Georgia.
This legislation also emerges in the context of Tbilisi’s recent enactment of an anti-NGO “foreign influence law,” which sparked widespread protests and drew criticism from the West. Critics accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party of aligning more closely with the Kremlin, potentially jeopardizing Georgia’s aspirations for European Union membership.
