LGBT+ community in Georgia faces problem despite legal guarantees – ombudsperson

The Georgian public defender on Wednesday said the domestic LGBT+ community faced a number of problems despite the presence of legal guarantees, in a statement on the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. 

“Despite existing legal guarantees and human rights protection mechanisms, the legal status of LGBT+ people is still a serious problem in Georgia.

“It is also significant that the insulting and hateful expressions made by public servants in the recent period prevent the creation of an equal environment in the country and renew discrimination”, said the statement. 

The public defender noted the members of the LGBT+ community faced problems related to health and education services, access to employment, and the right to assembly and expression.

May 17 is the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia that was first celebrated in 2005. The date was chosen symbolically – on May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of diseases.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and their supporters in Georgia are trying to mark this day against the background of opposition from far-right groups.

In 2014, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II announced May 17 as the day of sanctity of the family and respect for parents.