I want to address all those members of society who are afraid, who hate queer people; I want to address them and tell them that I understand — I understand that you are afraid; I understand that you hate us, but tomorrow and the day after, as a result of this law, you too will be silenced, an authoritarian regime will come to you too, you too will be caught, you too will be put in prison. We are all now without any economic rights, without social rights, and at this time the state is criminalizing a group of people and doing this in the name of justice, Georgianness, and humanity. All those people who have been deceived; those who support the Georgian Dream only because you are afraid that queer people will come and enter your families, think about who has already entered your families; think about how the regime has entered your families; Think about how much guarantee you have to live in this country, and then stand up for queer people and fight for us.
This is how the activist Alla Parunova addressed the public on December 2, the day the Georgian Dream’s pre-election hate law came into effect, when queer activists and supporters held a rally-performance outside the party’s office. The law, in addition to being fascist, homophobic, and transphobic, imposes censorship on art, literature, and education.
“Fascist Georgian Dream clinging to homophobia,” “The only propagandist is the Georgian Dream,” “Rebellion is my answer” — citizens were outside the Georgian Dream office with posters with these and other inscriptions. A large number of police were mobilized to protect the party office.
The crowd reminded the Honorary Chairman of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, of his words — they played Ivanishvili’s 2013 statement on queer rights over a loudspeaker. At the time, the Prime Minister was responding to a question at a rally scheduled for May 17:
“Sexual minorities, I have stated many times, are citizens just like we represent ourselves, each of us. And there should be no emphasis on this, our society will gradually get used to it. I know that there are questions about this, there is a part of the people who cannot accept this. For this, there are law enforcement structures in our state. We will do everything to protect the rights of any minority, and so it will be in this case.”
Two days after this statement, on the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, queer activists and supporters were dispersed by clergy and parishioners, while the state failed to protect their freedom of expression. The peaceful protestors were taken out of the area in yellow buses and minibuses, although there were attacks on these vehicles as well. The following year, May 17 was declared the Day of “Family Sanctity” by the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, Ilia II. Since then, every year, on the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, representatives of the Patriarchate and their parishioners take to the streets of Tbilisi, while the state fails to protect the freedom of expression of the queer community.
Over the years, political homophobia has increased, and Bidzina Ivanishvili’s statements towards the queer community have also changed. Moreover, 11 years later, in 2024, he and his party made hatred a key election promise. About a month before the elections, the Georgian Dream adopted a homophobic, transphobic law that incites hatred and restricts many rights, as well as contradicts the Constitution of Georgia.
Queer activist and social worker Ira Silanteva, who was at the Georgian Dream office on December 2, told Aprili Media that this statement by Bidzina Ivanishvili was included loudly as a symbol to highlight the hypocrisy of the Georgian Dream.
Ira at the rally. Photo: Vakho Kareli / Aprili Media
“Whenever they needed to, they always used various minorities, inciting hatred towards various groups, and the last election promise was based on hatred. Instead of providing decent healthcare, decent education, democratic reforms, etc., they used LGBTQ+ people to turn society against each other,” says Ira.
She emphasizes that the homophobic law is aimed at inciting hatred.
“This law is clearly fascist. We are here to declare our disobedience to both this fascist law and the fascist regime we have in the country.”
Another activist, Pertso, tells us that this law cannot be enforced, that it is against the constitution and fascist. She also talks about creating an enemy image out of queer people.
“This law imposes censorship on anyone whom the system considers an opponent. On the one hand, it says to protect family values, but it does not explain in any way how LGBTQ+ people violate family values and how we pose a threat to children or any kind of purity. This is complete demagogy, we are being made scapegoats. As if it were really because of us that every third child goes hungry and as if it were because of us that various groups are protesting the illegitimate government that stole our elections. They are bringing all this to their supporters as if banning LGBTQ+ people will fix everything,” she says.
Pertso at the rally. Photo: Vakho Kareli / Aprili Media
During the rally, those gathered read a joint manifesto of activists, queer organizations, initiative groups, and individual citizens, which we offer in full:
We, the citizens of Georgia, with this manifesto, declare our opposition to the fascist anti-LGBT law, known under the false name "On Family Values and the Protection of Minors" and which entered into force today, December 2, 2024.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, an oligarch who became rich in Russia and a country trader, unilaterally adopted a fascist law with a complete simulation of public debate.
This law, which makes hatred and evil the norm, has historical analogues only in fascist and authoritarian regimes.
Therefore, we will henceforth refer to the oligarch and his team, who currently have the state under their control and are using police violence to target the population that has taken to the streets, as the "fascist dream."
The "Fascist Dream" has invested millions in circulating hatred and lies through its satellite television channels! However, the public knows very well that this is a law copied from Putin's authoritarianism textbook;
By criminalizing one group of the population, queer people, legalizing hate, and censorship, establishing total control, the law also criminalizes anyone and everything that opposes the legalization of this evil.
The regime seeks to subjugate and suppress people's thoughts, words, and actions , and the queer community is its first target!
In Georgia, where about a million people have migrated for labor in the last 5 years, every third child lives in extreme poverty, and the education and healthcare systems are in ruins, a greedy oligarch has based his entire election campaign on false promises of peace and artificially fueled hatred.
Therefore, today, we, queer people and supporters who sign this manifesto, appeal to the entire society, to all institutions and organizations operating in the country, governmental, non-governmental, public or private agencies and institutions:
In Georgia, fascism is legalized today, evil is normalized. And in a state where fascism is declared the norm, there are only two ways left: obedience or disobedience.
Under fascism, the existence and coexistence of people, the right to life, livelihood, thought, creativity, and activity are threatened!
Therefore, we can now only declare joint, universal, civil resistance to the fascist reality established by the oligarch, through complete disobedience to the fascist law, through its repeated and flagrant violation!
We refuse to submit to the repressive law and regime!
We refuse to hide, to remain silent!
And we invite others to do the same.
To all public agencies tasked with protecting and enforcing human rights: openly support and ensure the recognition of queer people as equal citizens!
To medical professionals: Do not obey the fascist demand of the law and serve trans people!
Show banned films!
Put on forbidden plays!
Print and read banned literature!
Teach banned texts in universities!
Show your solidarity in this difficult moment!
Let's all stand together against the fascist regime.
Inaction and silence mean complicity in fulfilling the fascist dream.
Disobedience to the fascist, anti-LGBT law and the authoritarian regime of an oligarch steeped in homophobia!
Aprili Media also opposes the hate law. Our principles and values are based on respect for human rights. We fight for equality and diversity; we are the guardians of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and we oppose discrimination. We believe that all people are equal, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic or religious affiliation, etc. Our organization continues to work to reduce discrimination and raise awareness. We will continue to give a platform to those people who are less visible to the mainstream media.