The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, signed a law on October 3, 2024, that restricts the rights of the LGBTQ community. This action came a day after President Salome Zourabichvili declined to sign the bill, which was passed by Parliament on September 17.
Papuashvili announced on Facebook, "In accordance with the Constitution, I signed today the law on 'Family Values and Protection of Minors,' which was not signed by President Salome Zourabichvili." The president's office clarified that she did not veto the law, allowing the Speaker to sign it after a certain period of time.
The new legislation prohibits same-sex unions and alternative forms of marriage, as well as adoption by individuals identifying as a different gender or by non-heterosexual individuals. It also bans gender reassignment surgeries and the representation of gender differing from biological sex in official documents. Furthermore, it restricts the promotion of LGBTQ content in educational institutions, media, and public spaces, with violations leading to fines, professional bans, and imprisonment.
Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on Georgia to revoke the law, labeling it as infringing on fundamental human rights and exacerbating discrimination and stigmatization. He stated that this law further deviates Tbilisi's path toward EU membership.