Bulgaria Passes “LGBTI Propaganda” Ban in Schools

The Parliament of Bulgaria has passed a Russian-style “gay propaganda” ban that will outlaw any representation of LGBTI people in schools.

The law prohibits “propaganda, promotion, and incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, of ideas and views related to non-traditional homosexual orientation and/or the determination of gender identity other than biological” within the education system.

This ban not only covers schools and pre-schools but also extends to any portrayal of LGBTI people in the vicinity of schools.

According to ILGA-Europe, both the first and second readings of the bill took place on Wednesday, just seven days after it was passed by a committee.

This rapid progression through Parliament, argued the organisation, reflects a “clear fast-tracking of the legislation” during its last session before the summer break, while most watchdogs and international institutions are on holiday.

The law was drafted by the pro-Russian Revival Party using language based on Russian and Hungarian anti-LGBTI propaganda laws, which both countries have been promoting in Europe.

“The proponents of the law, the Revival Party, and all those who voted in favour of it claim that this is to protect young people. However, the truth is that this is an attack on the rights of children, particularly LGBTI children,” asserted the Executive Director of ILGA-Europe, Chaber.

ILGA-Europe believes that the fast-tracking of the law had political motives ahead of Bulgaria’s upcoming national elections in October. “LGBTI people are being used in both scenarios as scapegoats and as a distraction to secure votes for far-right and Russia-aligned political parties,” Chaber asserted.

The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe has repeatedly found such anti-LGBTI+ propaganda laws to be in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Denitsa Lyubenova, a lawyer at Bulgarian LGBTI organisation Deystvie, argued that the Venice Commission had confirmed that LGBTI “propaganda” laws “put children and youth at risk by creating a threatening environment where LGBTI children can be subjected to health-related risks, bullying, and harassment…”

These laws, said Lyubenova, also exclude LGBT+ people from fully participating in a democratic society.

European LGBTI group, Forbidden Colours, condemned the legislation as “a blatant attack on children’s rights” and called on the European Commission to initiate infringement procedures against Bulgaria.

“The European Union cannot stand idly by while one of its member states enacts laws that endanger the safety and rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals. We urge the European Commission to take decisive action against Bulgaria to uphold the principles of equality and human rights that are at the core of the EU,” said the organisation.

Deystvie and several other rights groups have launched a petition calling on President Rumen Radev to veto the law.