Georgia passes law banning 'LGBT propaganda' amid western outcry

The Georgian Parliament has passed a controversial law, criticised by the West, which prohibits "LGBT propaganda". The legislation affects the entire Georgian LGBT community, including individuals undergoing gender transition and the doctors who assist them in this process.

The rights of LGBT people globally can be likened to an endless parabola. On one hand, Malta enables same-sex couples to adopt children and legalises same-sex marriages. On the other hand, there are countries where being gay can result in the death penalty. Although human rights activists and the LGBT community are striving to change the legal landscape, many countries, particularly those with predominantly Muslim populations, impose stringent norms dictating whom their citizens may love and what they should believe. To this end, a series of state documents are being adopted to formalise these laws.

European activists have been closely watching Georgia for some time due to the actions of the political party Georgian Dream, which is gradually leading the country to mirror Russia. On 17 September 2024, the Georgian Parliament passed a law prohibiting "LGBT propaganda". The document closely resembles a similar regulation in Russia. According to the law, same-sex marriages, adoption of children by such couples, and transgender individuals are banned. The law also prohibits gender correction surgeries and threatens prison sentences for doctors who assist in the surgical transition process. The document further forbids the dissemination of information "popularising LGBT" in the media and educational sectors, as well as organising events supporting LGBT individuals, such as Pride Parades.

The law prohibiting "LGBT propaganda" was approved by 84 members of Parliament. None of the eligible voters opposed it. The opposition party abstained from the vote in protest. The future of the document now depends on Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who has pledged to veto the law. However, the Georgian Dream Party holds a sufficient majority to override the veto.