Georgia to propose banning same-sex marriage, LGBT propaganda

Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party has announced plans to propose amendments to the country's Constitution aimed at prohibiting same-sex marriage, gender reassignment, and what they term as LGBT propaganda.

The move has sparked controversy, with opposition parties condemning it as a violation of human rights, Caliber.Az reports citing Georgian media.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the executive secretary of Georgian Dream, outlined the party's intentions at a briefing on March 25.

"We are initiating constitutional amendments that will clearly spell out guarantees of family values and the protection of minors," he stated, emphasizing that the proposed changes would not impede the rights and freedoms of citizens, regardless of their lifestyle choices.

However, Mdinaradze expressed disappointment at the lack of participation from the parliamentary opposition in the debate surrounding the proposed amendments.

In response, Vakhtang Megrelishvili, a member of the opposition party Girchi, criticized the amendments as "absurd" and accused the Georgian Dream of infringing on human rights.

The proposed amendments seek to modify Article 30 of the Georgian Constitution, which addresses family, marriage, and the rights of mothers and children. Specifically, the amendments aim to define marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman, potentially including language requiring that marriage involve a union between a biological man and woman. Additionally, the amendments aim to prohibit gender reassignment and the promotion of same-sex marriage.

To be enacted, the proposed amendments must secure approval from a constitutional majority in the parliament, requiring the support of 113 deputies. However, with Georgian Dream holding only 84 seats in parliament, garnering the necessary support remains uncertain.