On 27 June, the parliamentary majority passed in first reading an anti-LGBT Legislative package consisting of a core law “On the Protection of Family Values and Minors” and 18 related amendments to various Georgian laws.
The package was adopted with 78 votes in favour and no votes against. The majority of opposition MPs did not attend the plenary session as they are boycotting parliamentary work following the adoption of the law on foreign agents.
Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvli said: “Yesterday … we postponed the vote until today so that the opposition has the opportunity to think about whose side it is on: is it on the side of Georgia, is it on the side of Georgian society, or is it under the influence of propaganda and other external political groups and therefore is not taking part in this vote.”
After the vote, he claimed that one million Georgians had “demanded” the changes: “The Georgian parliament has made a really important decision,” adding that it was the “demand” of his estimated “one million” Georgian citizens who had rallied in support of the legislation. 17 May.
As the spring session of Parliament ends this week and the package is not being passed in a fast-track procedure, it is unlikely to pass the second and third readings now. However, discussions will continue in the upcoming autumn session, which begins in September.
On 26 June, the Venice Commission published its opinion on the core law and amendments. The Commission called on the Georgian government to “fully reconsider this proposed law and not to proceed with its adoption” or, if it proceeds with its adoption, to remove/amend some of the articles in a way that ensures non-discrimination against LGBTI persons and compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Homophobia was used by the ruling Georgian Dream party as one of the main pillars of its election campaign. The package of laws passed today is supposedly intended to combat “LGBT propaganda” in the country, but in fact threatens some basic rights, including freedom of expression and assembly, and allows for censorship of literature, film and media.
The governing General Assembly has also passed a the change to the Georgian Constitution, which states that “the protection of family values and minors is guaranteed by constitutional law,” and to the corresponding constitutional law. However, the amendment is on hold because the DG does not have a constitutional majority.
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