Georgian parliament gives initial approval to sweeping curbs on LGBTQ rights
Georgia’s parliament gave its initial approval to a set of bills containing sweeping curbs on LGBTQ rights, including bans on LGBT “propaganda” and nonheterosexual people adopting children.
Georgia’s parliament on Thursday gave its initial approval to a set of bills containing sweeping curbs on LGBTQ rights, including bans on the “propaganda” of same-sex relationships and gender-transition surgery.
The package, which was proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party and which could outlaw Pride events and public displays of the LGBTQ rainbow flag, was approved by a majority of deputies. It must pass two more readings before becoming law.
Parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili said earlier this month that lawmakers would only vote on the bills’ second and third readings during the autumn parliamentary session, in the immediate run-up to a general election scheduled for Oct. 26.
He has said the bills are necessary to control “LGBT propaganda” which he said was “altering traditional relations”.
The legislation would also ban nonheterosexual people from adopting children and prevent people from changing their gender on ID documents. Public gatherings promoting same-sex relationships would not be allowed either.
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