The Georgian parliament has approved a law that restricts the rights of LGBT individuals

A law on “family values and the protection of minors” that would impose extensive restrictions on LGBT rights was approved by Georgian lawmakers on Tuesday in its third and final reading.

Authorities would be able to prohibit Pride events and public displays of the LGBT rainbow flag, as well as censor films and literature, on the basis of the bill.

The Georgian Dream party’s leaders assert that it is imperative to preserve traditional moral standards in Georgia, where the Orthodox Church retains significant influence due to its profound conservatism.

Activists assert that the measure is intended to increase conservative support for the government in anticipation of a parliamentary election in Georgia on Oct. 26. Though Georgia has aspirations to become a member of the European Union, Western governments are concerned that it is now leaning toward Russia.

The bill, which also reiterates an existing prohibition on same-sex marriage and prohibits gender reassignment surgery, would likely necessitate the closure of Tbilisi Pride, according to Tamara Jakeli, the director of the campaign group.

“This law is the most dreadful thing that has ever happened to the LGBT community in Georgia,” Jakeli, 28, stated to Reuters. “Most likely, we will be required to cease operations.” “We are unable to continue operating.”

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who is a critic of Georgian Dream, has stated that she will veto the measure, despite the fact that the organization’s powers are primarily ceremonial. However, the proportion of seats in parliament that Georgian Dream and its associates possess is sufficient to override her veto.

The issue of LGBT rights in Georgia is a contentious one, as the constitution prohibits same-sex marriage and polls indicate that the majority of the population is opposed to same-sex relationships. Some anti-LGBT demonstrators have physically assaulted participants in Tbilisi’s annual Pride marches in recent years.

AGENTS OF FOREIGN PEOPLE

The matter has gained greater attention in anticipation of the October election, as Georgian Dream is running for a fourth term in office and is actively campaigning against LGBT rights.

As relations with Western nations have deteriorated, the ruling party, which is led by billionaire ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has strengthened its ties with neighboring Russia.

Critics in Europe and the United States have criticized the passage of a law on “foreign agents” earlier this year, claiming that it is authoritarian and Russian-inspired. Georgia has experienced some of the most significant protests since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 as a result of its passage.

Georgia’s most popular party, which in 2014 passed a law prohibiting anti-LGBT discrimination before transitioning to more conservative stances, continues to retain its popularity, according to opinion polls. However, it has experienced a decline in popularity since 2020, when it secured a slender majority in parliament.

Pride director Jakeli’s visage is depicted in a ruling party advertisement that was broadcast on Georgian television, where the phrase “No to moral degradation” is presented.

The measure could only be halted if Georgian Dream were to lose power in October, according to Jakeli. However, she acknowledged that the opposition parties in the country are not explicitly supportive of LGBT rights.

“The only way we can survive in this country and have any progress on LGBT rights is for us to go in great numbers to the elections and vote for change,” said the representative.