Georgia's Parliament Speaker Signs Controversial Law Limiting LGBTQ Rights

Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia from the 'Georgian Dream' party, signed the controversial 'Family Values' bill on October 4, which, according to human rights groups and opponents, severely restricts the rights of sexual and gender minorities. This bill was approved in the country's parliament with 84 votes in favor and no votes against. Earlier, after the bill was passed on September 18, opponents boycotted the parliament, and protesters gathered outside the parliament building. On Wednesday, October 2, Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, refrained from signing the bill to return it to parliament according to the Georgian constitution. The policies of the ruling 'Georgian Dream' party are in conflict with Salome Zourabichvili and the political opposition, which has boycotted parliament sessions for months ahead of next month's elections. On September 18, a group of people in Georgia protested against the new law in front of the parliament building in downtown Tbilisi. They held placards stating that this law ignores the real problems of Georgian families. The law, introduced as 'Family Values and Protection of Minors,' amends 18 previous laws, including those related to freedom of expression and media. The government refers to these changes as 'reforms.' One important aspect of this law is the prohibition of gatherings where individuals can express a gender different from their 'biological sex.' Shalva Papuashvili, while signing this law, attacked the President and his opponents for not supporting it, stating, 'It is very interesting that the worthless opposition leader, who has now become a popular president, is unwilling to sign a law that protects the most valuable thing for a human being, namely family and children.' Although the Speaker of Parliament had the legal right to sign this law, his action reflects the highly polarized political climate in Georgia. This law must now be published in the official journal of Georgian laws and will come into effect 60 days later. The 'Family Values' bill proposed by the ruling 'Georgian Dream' party includes prohibiting same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. This law also prevents media from writing or showing anything about same-sex relationships. The President of Georgia opposed this law and vetoed it, but the ruling party turned it into law regardless of public protests and international concerns. In response to criticism from Western countries, Shalva Papuashvili stated, 'I know some foreign countries do not like this law, but we Georgians have never feared the opinions of others. When faith, reason, and love for our country tell us that something is right, we do it, even if the rest of the world thinks wrong.' This law is one of the most controversial laws in Georgia targeting sexual minorities, following the 'Foreign Agents Law,' which allows the government to restrict the activities of media and human rights groups receiving funding from abroad. The passage of this law has led to significant protests in Georgia, and the United States and Western countries have expressed their concerns.