Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has signed a pro-family bill that would ban extreme LGBT ideology despite opposition from President Salome Zourabichvili.
In September, the Georgian Parliament voted 84-0 in favor of "On Family Values and Protection of Minor," a bill that would protect society from the pseudo-liberal ideology and the inevitable harmful consequences of extreme LGBT ideology. The legislation would ban same-sex marriages and adoptions by same-sex couples, public displays and support of the LGBT rainbow flag and media depictions of LGBTQ+ relationships and individuals. It would also ban gender alteration procedures and prevent changes to gender designations on official documents.
The ruling Georgian Dream Party provided the necessary votes for its passage. However, the opposition party of Zourabichvili refused to sign the proceedings and returned it to the parliament on Oct. 3. (Related: Georgian MP introduces bill that seeks to ban LGBT propaganda and indoctrination efforts (most of which target youth.))
But the Georgian Dream and its allies in parliament had enough seats to override her opposition. The speaker had five days to sign and publish the law after the president refused. The law will take effect 60 days after publication, more than a month after the crucial Oct. 26 parliamentary elections.
"Today, according to the Constitution of Georgia, I am signing the law 'Protection of Family Values and Minors,' which was not signed by Salome Zurabishvili," Papuashvili posted on his official Facebook account on Oct. 4.
"The law, which I am signing, does not reflect current, temporary, changing ideas and ideologies, but is based on common sense, historical experience and centuries-old Christian, Georgian and European values."
Papuashvili slams Georgian president, defends his anti-LGBT bill
In his Facebook post, Papuashvili also criticized Zurabishvili for her refusal to sign the bill.
"Symbolic that the nominal leader of the homeless and worthless Opposition, who has become a lovable president, refuses to sign a law that protects what is most valuable to a person – family and children. This refusal clearly shows where Salome Zurabishvili stands and where are the anti-national oppositionists hiding behind her, who did not dare to openly express their opinion on this law and shamefully escaped from the hall while voting on the law," he wrote.
The speaker also claimed that the legislation reflects common sense and historical experience, despite anticipated criticism from the international community.
"I understand that signing this law will cause criticism from some foreign partners, but we Georgians have never been afraid of others' evaluations when it was our belief, common sense and loyalty to our country and when we saw that civilization currents were cutting the wrong trench. This has gotten us through millennia. This is how we preserve our identity. At the same time, in the same foreign country, we see the spirit of millions of people agreeing with this law," he said.
Similarly, Papuashvili stated in September that the collaboration between Georgia and the EU should not involve "blindly" following directives. Instead, he advocated for a "two-way path" characterized by "mutual learning, mutual respect and mutual acceptance."
"Georgia is one of the first cradles of European civilization. We are co-creators of the fact that agriculture, viticulture and the Christian faith were woven into the European identity," he said. "Even today, our rapprochement with the European Union should not be a matter of blindly following instructions, but should be a two-way path – a path of mutual learning, mutual respect, mutual acceptance, [and] not merger and losing [identity]."
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