Georgian parliament approves law curbing LGBT rights
Georgian parliament approves law curbing LGBT rights
Reuters (on their own site)
Bill would provide basis to ban Pride marches, censor films
Orthodox Church has strong conservative influence
Georgia at political crossroads between Russia and West
Governing party faces elections next month
TBILISI, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Georgian lawmakers on Tuesday approved the third and final reading of a law on "family values and the protection of minors" that would impose sweeping curbs on LGBT rights.
The bill would provide a legal basis for authorities to outlaw Pride events and public displays of the LGBT rainbow flag, and to impose censorship of films and books.
Leaders of the governing Georgian Dream party say it is needed to safeguard traditional moral standards in Georgia, whose deeply conservative Orthodox Church is highly influential.
Activists say the measure is aimed at boosting conservative support for the government ahead of a parliamentary election on Oct. 26 in Georgia, a country that has ambitions to join the European Union but which Western governments fear is now tilting back towards Russia.
Tamara Jakeli, director of campaign group Tbilisi Pride, said the bill, which also restates an existing ban on same-sex marriage and bans gender reassignment surgery, would likely force her organisation to close its doors.
"This law is the most terrible thing to happen to the LGBT community in Georgia," Jakeli, 28, told Reuters. "We will most likely have to shut down. There is no way for us to continue functioning."
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