Bill in Georgia’s parliament would ban Pride marches and rainbow flags
Russian homophobes are role models for Georgia’s ruling party.
The increasingly Russia-imitating government of the nation of Georgia has introduced a bill to ban LGBT Pride marches and symbols.
The proposal comes in the wake of draconian anti-LGBT “propaganda” legislation that passed last year.
In recent years, the ruling party in the nation at the edge of Eastern Europe and Western Asia has adopted policies that are modeled after those of Russia, the nation’s huge northern neighbor.
Their political opponents would prefer closer ties with the European Union and have been protesting against the government nearly continuously since October.
The new proposal, titled “On the Ban of LGBT Marches and Relevant Colorful Items”, will be referred to parliament’s Human Rights Committee for review, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said..
While the full text of the bill has yet to be made public, its title and preliminary statements suggest an effort to restrict public expressions associated with the LGBT community, including marches, rallies, and symbolic displays such as rainbow flags.
The [proposal] comes amid increasing tensions surrounding LGBT rights in Georgia. In recent years, attempts to hold Pride events have often been met with counter-protests and violent clashes. Notably, in July 2021, far-right groups attacked journalists and activists during Tbilisi Pride Week, prompting international condemnation and raising questions about the government’s commitment to protecting minority rights.
