Rights group: Georgian Gov't "supresses" sexual minorities

The non-governmental organization Social Justice Center (SJC) has issued a statement, accusing Georgian Government in supressing LGBTQ+ visibility on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, noting that queer communities and allies have been unable to mark the day safely for years.

The organization emphasized that May 17, globally recognized for raising awareness of LGBTQ+ rights and condemning violence, has, since 2014, been replaced in Georgia with the Day of Family Purity, an initiative introduced by the Georgian Orthodox Church. In 2024, the ruling party Georgian Dream declared May 17 an official public holiday, celebrated with large religious processions in Tbilisi and across the country.

“Since Georgian Dream came to power, May 17 has become a day marked by tolerated and encouraged violence, discrimination, and repression against the queer community,” the statement reads.

SJC says this year, LGBTQ+ people, activists, and allies face “a deep and ongoing political crisis” in Georgia.“In the aftermath of a rigged election, Georgian Dream seeks to establish single-party rule and indefinite power. Under the shadow of inhumane legislation, it is formalizing an anti-democratic regime and legalizing hatred, oppression, and discrimination,” the statement reads.

The NGO also noted that no LGBTQ+ events are scheduled for May 17 in Georgia, adding central streets in Tbilisi will instead be occupied by Orthodox Church-organized rallies and processions, including a large march from Rustaveli Avenue to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, during which traffic will be temporarily restricted.

The European Court of Human Rights has previously condemned Georgia’s record. It called the violence against LGBTQ+ demonstrators on May 17, 2013, in Tbilisi “unprecedented” and ordered the government to pay €193,500 in damages, citing the authorities' “silent approval” of the attacks on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

On September 17, 2024, the Georgian Dream Parliament passed controversial laws, which, the NGOs claim restrict LGBTQ+ rights, further fueling concerns about the country’s human rights trajectory.