“We have supported and protected the rights of all minorities – ethnic, religious and sexual – during our time in office,” said Petre Tsiskarishvili, a member of the United National Movement party and a minister in Georgia’s previous government. “While the Georgian Dream needs and wants polarization for its own political benefits.”
According to a 2022 poll, four out of five Georgians support blocking gay jobs in education, while 53 percent believe LGBT+ people should be banned from holding public events. Compared to previous years, attitudes had become more liberal – but ahead of the ruling party The media and political campaign to demonize the community was in full swing.
On Friday, Georgian Dream leaders joined clergy and others in celebrating “Family Purity Day” in Tbilisi. Among them was former AC Milan footballer Kakha Kaladze, who is now mayor of Tbilisi. He had previously accused anti-government protesters of beating up their own fellow demonstrators and praised the police. His office told POLITICO that he was too busy to discuss the legislation or the crackdown on activists, but Kaladze has previously called calls from the EU to drop the bill “shameful.” According to him, “LGBT propaganda” poses “a direct threat to our future generations.”
The European Commission granted Georgia EU candidate status in December, handing Georgian Dream a major political victory at home, even though the country clearly did not meet the criteria to proceed with its bid. The top 12 priorities include strengthening “the protection of human rights, including through the implementation of an ambitious human rights strategy and ensuring freedom of assembly and expression.”
The European Commission granted Georgia EU candidate status in December, handing Georgian Dream a major political victory at home, even though the country clearly did not meet the criteria to proceed with its bid. | Giorgi Arjevandize/AFP via Getty Images
The proposed anti-LGBTQ+ law would obviously contradict these commitments. But while the EU was quick to condemn the controversial “foreign agents” legislation, the passage of measures targeting sexual and gender identity was met with less severe criticism. That's likely because any foreign opposition will be used as evidence of foreign interference, say those most affected by the law.
“The Georgian Dream narrative suggests that the West is pushing what they call 'pseudoliberal ideology' and LGBTQ propaganda,” said Tavadze, the Pride activist, “while in reality the EU and the initiatives it supports are just queering Helping people get their rights.” fair rights. Any support from the EU will be weaponized by the Georgian Dream and amplified by a propaganda machine.”
“There are queer people in Georgia; We are Georgians, we are patriots and we love Georgia – even if it feels like it is getting harder and harder.”
