Georgia enacts law restricting LGBTQ+ rights

September 18, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

Georgia’s parliament has approved a contentious law tightening restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights.

The “family values and protection of minors” legislation bans same-sex marriage, gender reassignment surgery, Pride events, and public displays of the rainbow flag.

Authorities can now censor films and books deemed harmful to minors.

The ruling Georgian Dream party claims the law preserves traditional moral standards, aligned with the influential Orthodox Church’s conservative views.

Leaders of the governing Georgian Dream party say it is needed to safeguard “traditional moral standards”

However, according to some human activists said this stance has raised concern about the erosion of democratic values and the perpetuation of discrimination.

The Director of the campaign group of Tbilisi Pride, Tamara Jakeli, mentioned that “This law is the most terrible thing to happen to the LGBT community in Georgia,” Jakeli, 28, told the Reuters news agency. “We will most likely have to shut down. There is no way for us to continue functioning.”

“Georgia has taken a significant step backward in terms of LGBTQ+ rights with the passage of a law that severely restricts the community’s freedoms.

“This move has been met with widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue that the law infringes upon their fundamental human rights” she said

The ruling Georgian Dream party claims the law is necessary to safeguard traditional moral standards, aligning with the influential Orthodox Church’s conservative views.