Georgia’s New Law Bans Pride and Rainbow Flags, Trans Model Murdered
New Law Bans Pride Events
Georgia just passed a law that makes life harder for LGBTQIA+ people. According to Al Jazeera, this law stops Pride events and bans rainbow flags in public. It also lets the government censor books and movies about LGBTQIA+ topics. Many people say this law is a big step backward for human rights in Georgia.
The law, approved by the Georgian Dream party with an 84-0 vote, also prohibits same-sex marriages and gender-affirming treatments. Critics argue that this legislation targets an already vulnerable community, promoting discrimination and social exclusion. Tamara Jakeli from Tbilisi Pride expressed concerns that her organisation might have to shut down due to these restrictions.
Tragic Coincidence: The Murder of Kesaria Abramidze
In a tragic turn of events, Kesaria Abramidze, a well-known transgender model and activist, was murdered just one day after the law was passed. She was found stabbed to death in her Tbilisi apartment. While there is no direct evidence linking her murder to the new legislation, it has intensified fears within the LGBTQIA+ community about rising violence and intolerance.
The police are looking into Abramidze’s murder. They think someone planned to kill her in a cruel way. Many people are upset about her death. President Salome Zourabichvili said it shows how much hate there is, and that people need to think about how to stop this kind of violence.
World Leaders Speak Out
People from other countries are angry about the new law and Abramidze’s death. Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative and Vice President of the EU, has told Georgia to take back the law. He says it might stop Georgia from joining the EU.
Georgia is at the intersection of Europe and Asia, a neighbour to Azerbaijan and Turkiye, with a population of close to four million. It is a former Soviet republic. Georgia has elections coming up. What’s happening now will affect whether it becomes more like Western countries or Russia.
The tragic death of Kesaria Abramidze shows how dangerous it can be when a country makes laws against certain groups of people. It reminds us why it’s so important to change these kinds of laws.
