Georgia moves to adopt Russian-style anti-LGBTQ laws.
State-sponsored homophobia in action.
Reports emerging from Georgia indicate that the government is adopting Russian-style anti-LGBTQ laws - moving to criminalise all LGBTQ events, remove any LGBTQ rights, and erase LGBTQ people from visibility.
The country's ruling party is the Georgian Dream party - they control the country's parliament.
It's expected that the proposed anti-LGBTQ legislation will be presented to the parliament in the coming days although it will take several months to work through the legislative process.
If adopted, the proposed legislation will reportedly make any kind of LGBTQ-related gatherings illegal. The proposal would also outlaw same-sex marriages, gender transition and the adoption of children by same-sex couples; it would also ban LGBTQ “propaganda” in schools and prohibit the broadcast of intimate scenes involving same-sex relationships.
Broadcasters, advertisers and movie theaters will also be ordered to redact any content that features same-sex relationships, regardless of the intended age of the audience, before broadcast.
The law would also remove any rights or legal recognition of same-sex couples.
Amidst continuing unrest and protests in Georgia, it's likely that the anti-LGBTQ legislation is a bit of a distraction tactic, while also appealing to the socially-conservative base of Georgian Dream. Adopting the anti-LGBTQ laws would mark a significant move away from the European Union.
What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Georgia?
What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Georgia? Let’s take a look at some of the key equality measures.
Is homosexuality legal in Georgia?
Yes. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 2000.
The age-of-consent is equal, regardless of sexuality.
Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people in Georgia
Yes. Comprehensive anti-discrimination provisions were implemented in 2014.
Is there Marriage Equality in Georgia?
No. There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
Georgia’s constitution specifically limits marriage to opposite-sex couples.
What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Georgia?
Georgia is a socially conservative country, and homosexuality is considered a taboo subject.
The Orthodox Christian church plays a strong role in shaping public opinion and reinforcing negative perceptions of LGBTQ people.
Georgia’s legislative moves towards equality have generally been influenced by policy requirements for closer alignment with the European Union, but the current government appears to have aligned itself closer to Russia and is adopting Russian-style state-sponsored homophobia.