Georgian anti-LGBTQ law

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Georgian Parliament passes Law on Family Values and Protection of Minors

Georgia’s Parliament approved a package of laws called the Law on Family Values and Protection of Minors on September 17, 2024. The package consisted of a core law and 18 amendments to other laws. It came into effect on October 3, 2024.

What the package does (in simple terms)
- Bans “alternative” marriage unions (non-traditional or same‑sex marriages) and restricts adoption to people who are heterosexual and match the assigned gender.
- Prohibits gender reassignment surgeries and prevents changing a person’s gender on official documents.
- Limits promoting information about gender identity, same‑sex relationships, or incest in schools, media, or public advertising.
- Prohibits public demonstrations or events that promote gender identity or non‑heterosexual relationships.
- Establishes May 17 as a holiday called “the sanctity of the family and respect for parents.”

How it moved through Parliament
- Backers: the ruling Georgian Dream party, its ally People’s Power, and the pro-government European Socialists party supported the package.
- Opposition: most opposition parties boycotted votes, with the Girchi party attending and criticizing the bill.
- The president initially refused to sign the bill and sent it back to Parliament, but the bill was later signed into law by Parliament’s speaker and took effect.

International reaction
- The bill drew strong criticism from Western countries and organizations. The European Union called the measure harmful and said it could affect Georgia’s relations with the EU, including visa-free travel and possible candidacy talks. The United States also imposed sanctions on some Georgian lawmakers over the law.

Public opinion context
- Many Georgians support closer ties with the European Union, but polls also show broad conservative views on LGBT issues. Surveys have indicated high levels of opposition to homosexuality among the population.

Notes
- Separately, there was also a proposed constitutional amendments package related to “family values and protection of minors,” but that package is a separate effort and not the same as the core law that was enacted.