In a move seemingly at odds with its stated desire to join the European Union, the ruling Georgian Dream coalition in Tbilisi is proposing constitutional changes that would restrict LGBTQ rights, akin to legislation in force in Russia.
Georgian Dream parliamentary majority leader Mamuka Mdinaradze unveiled the draft constitutional changes on March 25, saying they were designed to protect “family values and minors.” The proposed changes, as currently worded, would prohibit gatherings and the distribution of content aimed at “popularizing” same sex relationships, ban sex changes, and bar same-sex couples from adopting children, according to localmedia reports.
Critics assailed the proposed changes as out of sync with EU values and designed to solidify the support of Georgian Dream’s conservative base ahead of parliamentary elections this coming fall. Commenting prior to the formal announcement of the proposed changes, political scientist Paata Zakareishvili criticized Georgian Dream for its embrace of Russian-style illiberalism, which he said undermines the country’s EU accession hopes.
“It’s only done to win votes,” said Zakareishvili, who served from 2012-16 as minister of reintegration in a Georgian Dream government. “It’s just another Russian law.”
Russia significantly expanded anti-LGBTQ legislation in 2022, following the Russian army’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this March, the loosely defined international LGBTQ movement was designated as extremist by a Russian regulatory agency. Meanwhile, a Russian court announced on March 20 that it had arrested employees of a gay club who are now facing up to 10 years in jail.
EU membership has broad public support in Georgia, and the country celebrated after receiving a provisional green light in late 2023 to proceed with its EU membership bid. But at the time Brussels imposed conditions, in particular a requirement to implement legislation protecting individual rights in conformity with EU standards. The proposed constitutional changes would do just the opposite, enshrining a second-class status for members of the LGBTQ community.
Georgian Dream claims support for proposed changes is widespread. Homophobia is indeed common in predominantly Orthodox Christian Georgia, but that stance also ignores survey data suggesting it’s on the decline. “Georgian society has always been tolerant; however, Georgian society is not and cannot be tolerant of pseudo-liberal propaganda,” local media quoted Mdinaradze as saying in early March. He added that the aim of such propaganda “is to popularize a non-traditional lifestyle.”
In a statement to Eurasianet, Alexandre Crevaux-Asatiani, deputy director for foreign affairs of the opposition United National Movement party, called the proposed changes “pitiful.” He added that the changes would face difficulty winning legislative approval, even though Georgian Dream has a firm grip on parliament.
“If you really want to promote ‘family values,’ then work on what matters to families – stop inflation, higher paying jobs, no more families being split by mass emigration,” he said.
In Hungary, another country that has embraced Russia-like illiberal policies, attempts to uphold so-called traditional values via legislation have not always achieved their intended effect. Hungary adopted rules banning LGBTQ “propaganda” in 2021, but according to a RFERL report support for same-sex marriage actually increased during the time period before and after those laws were passed.
