Georgia Follows Russia’s Footsteps in Cracking Down on Queer Rights Amidst Political Unrest

In the aftermath of Moscow’s crackdown on foreign influence, Georgia is following suit by seeking to restrict the rights of queer people. The Georgian Dream party, which rules the country, has introduced a package of laws titled “Family Values and the Protection of Minors” in parliament. This was announced by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili in Tbilisi on Tuesday. The legislation will have an impact on civil rights, employment, and education in Georgia.

According to media reports, under Georgian law, marriage is only permitted between a man and a woman, excluding same-sex marriages. Non-heterosexual individuals are not allowed to adopt children, and only biological sex – either male or female – should be recorded on identity documents. Doctors are also prohibited from performing gender reassignment surgery on transgender individuals.

In addition to these restrictions, the government has banned “LGBT-propaganda” and demonstrations that focus on homosexual relationships or transgender issues. Such content will be prohibited in schools as well as in the media and advertising. Georgia, with its long Christian Orthodox tradition, remains a conservative society despite queer events like Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Tbilisi being held regularly. These events are often met with significant counter-demonstrations that sometimes lead to violence.

Georgia’s opponents fear that the Georgian Dream party will follow Russia’s path of promoting traditional values such as Orthodoxy, family, and patriotism while mobilizing political support for its authoritarian rule. They worry that repressive laws against the LGBTQI+ community could jeopardize the country’s chances for EU and NATO accession. The upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia are set for October after two months of mass protests against a law aimed at limiting foreign influence on civil society organizations which was ultimately passed.