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Agence France-Presse

In Georgia’s oldest gay bar, Tato Londaridze carefully stepped around construction materials as he set out his ambitious plan to put a stage for drag queens on the dance floor.
“Success”, in the centre of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, was the first gay club in the Caucasus when it opened in 2000 – but a slew of anti-LGBTQ proposals from the government have now put its future at risk.
“We are an open gay bar,” Tato said. “And we don’t want to change that.”
On Tuesday, the ruling Georgian Dream party outlined a package of laws that would ban what it calls “LGBT propaganda”, mirroring similar legislation used to crack down on gay rights in Russia and, more recently, Hungary.


Billed as “protecting family values and minors”, the new laws would prohibit the promotion of same-sex relationships on television and in the education system, outlaw sex changes, and codify a ban on same-sex marriage and adoption.
They would also ban “gatherings and demonstrations” promoting same-sex couples, and while the laws would not target his establishment directly, Tato is worried they could have broader consequences.
“It’s not only dangerous for the gay community, it is dangerous for the owners of gay bars,” he told AFP when asked about the government’s proposals first put forward in March.
“Queer places will stop existing, queer parties will be closed,” the 29-year-old warned.
“We are looking for a solution. We don’t want to work undercover.”
The draft legislation was announced a day after the Black Sea nation adopted a controversial “foreign influence” law placing onerous restrictions on Western-funded rights groups and the media.

Both measures have ignited fears ex-Soviet Georgia is moving back into Moscow’s orbit, despite opinion polls showing more than 80 per cent of the population supporting membership of Nato and the European Union.
Londaridze said some of his friends were already planning to leave.
“Most of them are afraid. I know several people who have already bought tickets,” he said.
“In the end, in Georgia, there will not be openly queer people.”
Across the street, in the small office of LGBTQ rights group Tbilisi Pride, co-founder Mariam Kvaratskhelia listed off a string of awareness campaigns and drag events they’ve been able to stage in recent years.
In the end, in Georgia, there will not be openly queer people
Tato Londaridze, owner of a gay bar in Tbilisi
“It was never easy. Georgia was never a very LGBTQ-friendly country unfortunately,” the 31-year-old said.
“But during the last two years, we have seen political homophobia really intensify.”
Last year, her group’s Tbilisi pride event in a park far from the city centre was mobbed by thousands of right-wing protesters, who completely destroyed the venue and forced its attendees to flee.
“The government did nothing to prevent the violence,” Kvaratskhelia said.
“I’m very sad to say this, but this year we are not planning Pride Week or any pride events.”
With the government’s proposed laws, the LGBTQ community now faces an “existential fight”, Kvaratskhelia said.
Lawmakers have said they will consider the new bills during the current parliamentary session, ahead of October elections where the opposition hopes to form a united front.
Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said the sweeping package of 19 bills had the “absolute support of the country’s population” and would protect “family values”.

But opposition parties have accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of pushing through the legislation in a bid to win over conservatives and distract the population from real issues.
The bills are likely to further deepen a rift between Georgia and the EU, which warned the Caucasus country last month it was straying from its path to joining the bloc with the new Russian-style legislation.
Kvaratskhelia, whose office and apartment building have already been vandalised, said she feared the measures will further alienate LGBTQ Georgians.
“I myself have thought a lot about going abroad and having a peaceful life,” she said.
But she vowed to stay as long as it was possible.
“We are going to have huge information campaigns in Tbilisi and in the regions to have victory in the coming parliamentary elections in October,” she said.
“We are very determined to keep the fight going.”


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LGBTQ

In Georgia, LGBTQ community fears Russia-style crackdown in ‘existential fight’

LGBTQ opponents push a man as they block the capital’s main avenue to a pride march in Tbilisi, in 2021. Photo: AP

Georgian students protest the law on “foreign agents” near the parliament building in Tbilisi on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

People walk in downtown Tbilisi. The proposed anti-LGBTQ measures have ignited fears ex-Soviet Georgia is moving back into Moscow’s orbit. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ageing Asia wants more babies, but excludes LGBTQ couples from starting families at almost every turn

Singaporean LGBTQ couple Ching Sia (left) and Cally Cheung with their baby daughter. Under Singapore’s laws, they are classified as single unmarried women, despite getting married in Australia two years ago. Photo: Handout

Ching Sia and Cally Cheung were unable to undergo IVF treatment in their home country of Singapore, so had to travel to Australia. Photo: Handout

In Singapore, same-sex lesbian couples are barred from undergoing IVF treatment because the city state classifies them as single unmarried women. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS

People take part in the 45th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in February last year. Demographers have noticed a rise in LGBTQ people having children in Australia and New Zealand. Photo: AFP

‘It’s a beginning’: India’s opposition parties come out in favour of same-sex civil unions ahead of election

Supporters of the LGBTQ community and gender rights activists take part in the Chennai Rainbow Pride Parade in Chennai. Photo: EPA-EFE

A member of the LGBTQ community in Mumbai watches the judgment on same-sex marriage by the Supreme Court, which declined to legalise same-sex marriages. Photo: Reuters

US imposes travel bans on Georgia officials over ‘foreign agents’ law

Students protest against the ‘foreign agents’ law in Tbilisi, Georgia on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Georgia adopts ‘foreign influence’ law despite mass protests, president’s veto

People protest outside the parliament building in central Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: AFP

Demonstrators stand in front of law enforcement officers during a rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

A demonstrator holds a EU flag. Photo: AP

People protest outside the parliament building in central Tbilisi. Photo: AFP

Georgia’s President Salome Zurabishvili address the crowd by video link. Photo: AFP

Thousands of South Koreans celebrate Pride despite ‘nonsensical’ ban on usual venue

Participants run during the Seoul Queer Culture Festival in Seoul. LGBTQ festivals have often been targeted by evangelical Christian groups. Photo: Reuters

South Korea’s Pride Parade, marking its 25th anniversary and one of the largest in Asia, was denied permission to gather at the Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, where the main festivities have traditionally been held. Photo: Reuters

Participants in the Seoul Queer Culture Festival in Seoul. Photo: Reuters

A Christian holds a cross to protest against homosexuality as participants parade during the Seoul Queer Culture Festival in Seoul. Photo: Reuters

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Georgia’s ruling party has outlined laws that would ban ‘LGBT propaganda’, mirroring similar legislation used to crack down on gay rights in Russia


The new, proposed laws would prohibit the promotion of same-sex relationships on television and in the education system, outlaw sex changes, and codify a ban on same-sex marriage.
