Human rights activists have called on the EU to take drastic action against Bulgaria after MPs voted on an amendment to ban the promotion of LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in schools.
Bulgaria has passed a law banning LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in schools, in a new blow to human rights that advocacy groups and activists have widely condemned.
The amendment to the Bulgarian education law, voted by Parliament on Wednesday, prohibits “propaganda, promotion or incitement in any way, direct or indirect, in the educational system of ideas and opinions related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity different from the biological one”.
Overwhelming parliamentary majority against LGBTQ people
The amendment, introduced by the far-right pro-Russian party Renaissancealso introduced a definition of “non-traditional sexual orientation“, which is explained as contrary to the Bulgarian legal concept of “emotional, romantic, sexual or sensual attraction between people of opposite sexes.”
The deputies approved the bill by a large majority, with 159 votes in favor, 22 against and 12 abstentions.
The law has caused uproar throughout Bulgaria, prompting protesters to take to the streets and human rights groups to criticize its parliamentary passage.
Forgotten values of equality and non-discrimination
Activists and organizations like LevFem, Feminist Mobilizations and the organization LGBTQ+ Action They demonstrated under the slogan “School for everyone! Let’s stop the hate!”.
Forbidden Coloursan EU-wide LGBTQ+ advocacy group, stated in a press release that it condemns the new law “as an attack on the fundamental human rights of LGBTIQ+ people, in particular children.”
“It is very worrying to see how Bulgaria adopts tactics from Russian anti-human rights playbook“, he continues. “Such actions are not only regressive, but are also in direct contradiction to the values of equality and non-discrimination defended by the European Union.”
A law very similar to those of Russia and Hungary
The wording of the Bulgarian law is reminiscent of Russian laws and Hungarians against LGBTQ+ propaganda, according to Forbidden Colors, suggesting it is an attempt by the Bulgarian government to suppress the visibility of LGBTQ+ people and roll back human rights.
In 2021, the Hungarian government led by the Law and Justice party –Fidesz- of the prime minister Viktor Orbán amended its law on pedophilia and child protection to limit their exposure to material that “promote homosexuality“, sex change and LGBT representation in the media or public space. Violations of the law are punishable by fines or prison sentences.
The “cloud of fear” from Hungary reaches Bulgaria
The world human rights organization Amnesty International has closely monitored the hostility of the Bulgarian Government against any demand for homosexual rights. He declared at the beginning of the year that Hungarian law “has created a scary cloud” that has pushed LGBTQ+ people into the shadows, and now the worry is that the same thing will happen in Bulgaria.
Activists are calling on the EU to do more to end discriminatory measures against LGBTQ+ people among its members.
“The European Union cannot sit idly by while one of its Member States enacts laws that endanger the safety and rights of LGBTIQ+ people,” he said. Forbidden Colours, urging the European Commission to “take decisive action against Bulgaria to defend the principles of equality and human rights that form the core of the EU.”
Bulgaria is at the bottom of respect for LGBTQ+ people
Bulgaria, like much of Eastern Europe, consistently ranks at the bottom in terms of rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ people according to civil rights organizations and researchers.
In his last Rainbow Mapwhich analyzes the state of the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ people across the continent, the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association places Bulgaria in the 38th out of 48 countries.
It also gave Bulgaria a score of 23.22%, with 0% representing “serious human rights violations and discrimination” and 100% means respect for human rights and full equality.
Of the 27 EU Member States, Bulgaria occupies second to last placejust above Romania and Poland, and well below the EU average, which is 50.61%.
