On October 2, 2024, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili announced her decision not to sign a controversial law banning LGBT propaganda, returning it to the parliament for reconsideration. The law, passed by the Georgian parliament on September 17, aimed to restrict various aspects of LGBT rights, including same-sex unions and gender identity changes.
The legislation, which received overwhelming support from the ruling party, 'Georgian Dream,' with 84 votes in favor and no opposition, faced a boycott from opposition members during the vote. If signed, it would have prohibited same-sex relationships, adoption by non-heterosexual individuals, and gender reassignment surgeries, along with imposing strict penalties for promoting LGBT content across various platforms.
Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, urged Georgia to withdraw the law, labeling it as a violation of fundamental human rights and a setback for the country's aspirations to join the European Union. Borrell emphasized that such legislation would further alienate Tbilisi from its EU integration path.
The situation highlights the ongoing tensions in Georgia regarding LGBT rights and the country's relationship with the European Union.