Bulgaria bans LGBTQ education in schools

Bulgaria will ban information about… LGBTQ Content.president Rumen Ladoo The corresponding amendments to the Education Law were signed in Sofia on Thursday.

Majority in parliament supports legislation

The changes to the law prohibit the dissemination of information about “non-traditional sexual orientation” and identities “different from biological sex.”

Parliament got this from the Russophile party Wassradstein (Reborn) The proposal to ban so-called LGBTQ “propaganda” was approved by a majority last week.

159 of the 240 MPs agreed, including those from the centre-right coalition GERB-SDSPopulist parties Information Networkthis Socialist Party and OutputBulgarian Muslim political party. Liberal-conservative alliance PP-DB Vote against the change in the law.

It is impossible to prevent bullying

According to the NGO LevFem, changes to the law now make it impossible to “take action against bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in schools”.

The ban will… Spreading “scientific information” Minority issues among students ObstaclesRadoslav Stoyanov, deputy chairman of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, was also warned.

Human Rights Council “deeply concerned”

After the parliamentary vote, 70 Bulgarian human rights organizations called on the president not to approve the legal changes, and 6,000 people signed a petition. European Council of Human Rights Expressing “deep concern” and calling on the Bulgarian authorities to “end discrimination and hostile rhetoric against LGBTQ people.”

Seventh parliamentary election in three years

October in Bulgaria Seventh General Election Occurred within three years. Acting President of the Audit Office Goriza Grancharova-Kochareva It was entrusted with forming a provisional cabinet by August 19.

The last general election was held on June 9 this year. However, the formation of a government failed due to the lack of parliamentary support for the prime ministerial candidate. Rosen Sheyasko.

His political party, Honeyas winner The party emerged victorious in parliamentary elections but failed to form a government for the fourth time in the past three years. They also received their first government mandate in July but were unable to No majority in parliament achieve.

Hungary and Russia are role models

Homophobic ideas can be found in political debates Bulgaria The Balkan country does not recognize universal marriage, and the EU member state has not ratified the Istanbul Convention on Combating Violence against Women.

exist Hungary Since summer 2021, talking about homosexuality in front of minors is punishable by a fine. Georgia In late June, parliament passed a law banning LGBTQ “propaganda”. Russia Similar laws have been used to oppress sexual minorities.