Prime Minister of Georgia calls for constitutional same-sex marriage ban
By Joseph Patrick McCormick
April 8, 2014
The Prime Minister of Georgia recently introduced an amendment calling
for same-sex marriage to be banned in the country’s constitution.
Irakli Garibashvili in late March introduced the amendment which would
specifically define marriage as between one man and one woman.
It was introduced apparently to avoid `misinterpretation’ of an
anti-discrimination bill which was also introduced at the same time.
The latter seeks to fill in legal gaps in anti-discrimination laws to
include LGBT people.
If passed, Georgia would join six other EU Member states with
constitutional same-sex marriage bans, including most recently
Croatia, which in December 2013 passed its ban.
Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland also ban same-sex
marriage.
Michael Cashman MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup, reacted:
`These are deeply unwelcome developments. Since the decriminalisation
of homosexuality in 2000, Georgia showed a commitment to protecting
LGBTI people from discrimination by changing its labour code as well
as introducing legislation protecting LGBT people from hate crime.
`Georgia should celebrate diversity and not return to a repressive and
negative past. Now is the time for leadership on the issue of human
rights of LGBTI people. The rights to equal protection of the law, and
the right to live without fear.’
Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup and Member of
the European Parliament delegation to the Southern Caucasus, added:
`It is a disgrace that Prime Minister Garibashvili introduced this
amendment at the same time that a bill closing the legal gap in the
protection of LGBTI people was introduced. The amendment serves no
purpose but to institutionalise discrimination against LGBTI people.’
`As equality is the defining element of a civilised and inclusive
society, I call on the Georgian Parliament to vote against this
homophobic amendment and continue on the road to equality.’