The parliament of Georgia, a once pro-Western and pro-democratic former Soviet republic at the intersection of Europe and Asia, that’s home to Caucasus Mountain villages and Black Sea beaches, has passed a legislation prohibiting LGBT propaganda and gender reassignment in its third and final reading, as reported during a live session broadcast today.
This legislation, which will be forwarded to Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili for her signature, received the approval of 84 members, with no dissenting votes.
Additionally, lawmakers endorsed other related bills within the legislative package. Specifically, the legislation seeks to address matters concerning marriage, adoption, and the custody of minor children, along with regulations pertaining to gender-affirming surgeries.
The recent amendments stipulate that Georgia will exclusively recognize marriages between a man and a woman, thereby prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting minors. Furthermore, all gender-affirming surgeries will be prohibited. Individuals who contravene these new regulations may face imprisonment ranging from one to four years. Additionally, those involved in promoting LGBT content—whether through educational institutions, media broadcasts, or advertisements—will be liable for substantial fines. Public demonstrations and rallies intended to promote LGBT issues are also now prohibited.
Previously, when the bill was passed during its second reading, the European Union’s diplomatic service expressed its disapproval of the initiative. It stated that the enactment of the relevant legislation would exacerbate tensions between the EU and Tbilisi. The service highlighted that the bill “compromises the fundamental rights of the Georgian populace and poses a risk of further stigmatization and discrimination against certain segments of the population.”
In response, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declared that the bill’s purpose was to limit LGBT propaganda rather than infringe upon human rights. He claimed that Europe embodies traditional Christian values, and if anyone seeks to portray matters differently, Georgia firmly rejects such perspectives.
