Doubling Down

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The ruling Georgian Dream party passed a family bill this week that critics said discriminates against the LGBTQ community and further erodes Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union, Al Jazeera reported.

On Tuesday, lawmakers of the governing party approved a draft law on “Family Values and Protection of Minors,” which officials said was needed as a countermeasure to LGBTQ “propaganda.”

The draft legislation consists of a series of articles that ban gender transition and the adoption of children by gay and transgender individuals. It also invalidates any same-sex marriages of Georgian nationals conducted outside the country.

In addition, the bill contains provisions that would remove references to LGBTQ information in books and films, as well as outlawing Pride events and public displays of the LGBTQ rainbow flag.

The opposition did not participate in the vote: Opposition legislators have been boycotting parliament since the Georgian Dream adopted a contentious “foreign agents” law earlier this year. Still, many opposition parties remain divided over the bill amid fears of alienating conservative voters, Euronews noted.

Regardless, opponents and civil rights groups criticized the anti-LGBTQ bill as “classic Russian propaganda,” noting that the draft law is similar to legislation Moscow adopted more than a decade ago.

They accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of distracting its supporters from real issues and creating another barrier to European integration.

The vote comes as Georgian parties are gearing up for parliamentary elections on Oct. 26, a vote that has observers concerned about democratic backsliding in the country.

Under the Georgian Dream party, the nation has been at odds with the EU, despite widespread support among the population to join the bloc.

The EU has frozen Georgia’s membership application in response to the government’s recent law that will brand Western-supported non-governmental organizations and media outlets as “foreign agents.” The bloc is also critical of a crackdown on pro-democracy protests, Politico added.

Meanwhile, Georgian Dream has drawn protests internationally after it announced last month that it would outlaw opposition parties if it wins the October vote.