The Georgian Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill of amnesty of thousands of prisoners and a legislative package against “LGBT propaganda” in their second reading, with the final vote on the bills expected by the end of the month.
The proposed changes would ban public gatherings or demonstrations promoting gender identities different from one's biological sex, sexual orientation, or incest. Amendments to the broadcasting law would require broadcasters to avoid airing advertisements or information promoting LGBT relationships and incest, as well as footage depicting such content.
The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe in June issued critical recommendations on the bill, urging Parliament to halt its progress.
However, the ruling party also submitted a package of constitutional amendments related to the issue, calling on voters to help the party secure a constitutional majority of at least 113 seats in the Parliament in the October 26 general elections to enshrine the changes in the constitution.
If adopted, the constitutional law would prohibit the dissemination of materials promoting same-sex family or intimate relationships, incest, adoption or foster care by non-heterosexual individuals or same-sex couples, sex-change medical procedures, or the non-use of gender-defined concepts.
The EU on Wednesday condemned the “rushed adoption” of the legislative package, claiming it undermined the “fundamental rights of Georgian people” and risked “further stigmatisation and discrimination of part of the population”.
The EU also expressed regret that the legislation, “with important repercussions on the EU integration path”, had been passed “without due public consultations and a thorough analysis of its compliance with European and international standards”.
