Bulgaria parliament bans LGBTQ 'promotion' in schools
8 آب 2024 08:27
The amendment to the law -- proposed by the country's pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party -- passed by a large majority, with 159 votes in favour, 22 against and 12 abstentions.
The law now bans the "propaganda, promotion or incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, in the education system of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one".
Lawmakers also voted on a separate text that defines "non-traditional sexual orientation" as "different from the generally accepted and established notions in the Bulgarian legal tradition of emotional, romantic, sexual or sensual attraction between persons of opposite sexes".
Demonstrators took to the streets of the capital Sofia in the late afternoon to protest against the amendment's adoption, chanting "Shame on you" and "Stop chasing people out of Bulgaria".
Among them was Sanya Kovacheva, a 35-year-old architect who accused the country's politicians of "exploiting disinformation and surfing the wave of hatred against the LGBTQ community" ahead of elections in October.
LevFem, the left-wing feminist group which organised the rally, said the amendment would make it impossible "to combat the harassment in school of young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people".
The law now bans the "propaganda, promotion or incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, in the education system of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one".
Lawmakers also voted on a separate text that defines "non-traditional sexual orientation" as "different from the generally accepted and established notions in the Bulgarian legal tradition of emotional, romantic, sexual or sensual attraction between persons of opposite sexes".
Demonstrators took to the streets of the capital Sofia in the late afternoon to protest against the amendment's adoption, chanting "Shame on you" and "Stop chasing people out of Bulgaria".
Among them was Sanya Kovacheva, a 35-year-old architect who accused the country's politicians of "exploiting disinformation and surfing the wave of hatred against the LGBTQ community" ahead of elections in October.
LevFem, the left-wing feminist group which organised the rally, said the amendment would make it impossible "to combat the harassment in school of young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people".