The Anti Gay Bill in Georgia Will Make Life Impossible

 
 

CIVICUS discusses proposed legislative changes that target LGBTQI+ people in Georgia with Tbilisi Pride director Tamar Jakeli. Tbilisi Pride is a prominent LGBTQI+ rights organisation fighting homophobia and transphobia.

Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, is pushing a bill that would ban LGBTQI+ gatherings, same-sex marriages, gender transitions and adoption by same-sex couples, and censor LGBTQI+ content in schools and the media. Critics claim the proposed law is similar to Russia’s law against ‘gay propaganda’, which has enabled discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ people. They accuse the government of trying to exploit anti-LGBTQI+ sentiment for political gain and warn that if passed, the bill could reverse progress made so far in changing social attitudes towards LGBTQI+ people.

What’s the status of LGBTQI+ people in Georgia?

The situation is worsening. For several years we made progress: anti-discrimination legislation was passed and we held Pride festivals with up to 3,000 attendees. We organised community meetings, social gatherings, film screenings and conferences. But the situation has recently deteriorated, as the government has begun to adopt tactics similar to Russia’s, promoting the idea that ‘LGBTQI+ propaganda’ needs to be controlled, leading to increased targeting and oppression of LGBTQI+ people. Many are considering leaving or have already done so, seeking asylum in countries such as Belgium and Germany.

Queer-friendly spaces are now mostly underground, with events held privately due to security concerns. Vandalism and constant threats make public gatherings extremely risky. We are systematically denied the constitutional right to freedom of assembly.

What’s in the ‘anti-LGBT law’ recently proposed by the ruling party?

The proposed legislation is a package of bills that poses severe threats to LGBTQI+ rights. It includes a total ban on assemblies related to LGBTQI+ rights, sexuality or gender identity. Police could disperse any gathering where there’s an openly queer person. Education on these topics would be banned in schools and universities, and the media would be prohibited from portraying same-sex relationships or gender transitions. Censorship would extend to films and other media.

Most alarmingly, the bill would ban gender reassignment surgery and hormone therapy, making it impossible for transgender people to physically transition, likely forcing many to leave Georgia. The bill also explicitly bans same-sex marriage and civil unions, even though since 2017 the constitution has defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

The bill’s language is highly discriminatory, as it equates LGBTQI+ rights with incest and other crimes and refers to LGBTQI+ people in derogatory terms. It would make life nearly impossible for LGBTQI+ people in Georgia.

Given the constraints, how are you working to promote LGBTQI+ rights?

There are organisations focusing on providing healthcare, legal and psychological services, while Tbilisi Pride prioritises cultural and political rights, highlighting issues such as the right to freedom of assembly and working to normalise the visibility of LGBTQI+ people. Our primary goal remains for LGBTQI+ people to be seen as legitimate citizens deserving respect and equal rights under the law, to counter the government’s absurd accusations, which claims we are plotting to overthrow it, among other things.

Pride events are a crucial part of our strategy because they provide an opportunity to bring LGBTQI+ issues to the forefront of public discourse. However, they are polarising within the movement. We see them as essential for visibility and advocacy, but some activists oppose them due to security risks or because they dislike them being inspired in western Pride events, which they see as overly commercialised.

Last year, we organised three events for Pride week: an opening event, an international conference and a Pride festival. The first two were successful, but the festival faced severe security challenges. Despite months of negotiations and promises from top state authorities, far-right groups managed to infiltrate the festival grounds. The police evacuated us and then allowed anti-rights groups to destroy the venue. This was a strategic choice by the government to simultaneously avoid bloodshed and appease conservative factions.

This year, due to pre-election tensions and heightened security risks, we decided not to hold any physical events. Instead, we’re focusing on mobilising young people to vote in the upcoming parliamentary election to prevent further erosion of our rights.

What progress have you made and what challenges have you faced?

Over the past decade we witnessed considerable progress in societal attitudes towards LGBTQI+ people. A few years ago, it was too common for people to publicly and openly discriminate against and reject LGBTQI+ people. While we still haven’t achieved full acceptance, there has been a significant positive shift in public attitudes. This change may not be radical but represents a meaningful improvement, particularly given the hostile environment fostered by the current government and the Georgian Orthodox Church.

We’ve made progress in creating spaces where queer people can express their true selves, particularly in the underground club culture and nightlife scene. Between 2015 and 2020, we also made notable strides in anti-discrimination legislation and gained inclusion in national human rights texts.

However, in the past few years the government has shamefully erased references to LGBTQI+ people from these vital documents, despite pressure from international human rights bodies. This erasure is a huge step backward, yet we remain hopeful and steadfast in our commitment to fight for equality and acceptance.

How do you connect with the global LGBTQI+ rights movement, and what international support do you need?

We are well-connected within Europe, being part of several umbrella organisations like the ILGA-Europe network. Our representatives participate in various European meetings to share progress and challenges. However, we need stronger connections with global organisations, particularly from the global south, to share experiences and develop strategies.

International support is now more critical than ever. An upcoming foreign agent bill, which targets organisations that receive international funding, also threatens our financial stability and security. We may need to fundraise internationally and develop an exit plan for activists if the situation becomes more insecure. Continued international solidarity and pressure on the Georgian government are vital to our survival and ongoing advocacy efforts.