New survey points to declining negative attitude toward LGBTQI people in Georgia

A new survey under the United Nations Joint Programme for Gender Equality has revealed a decreasing tendency of negative attitudes toward the LGBTQI community in Georgia, while still pointing out a “significant challenge” in the protection of the rights of queer people.

The survey, carried out by the UN Women, the UN Development Programme and the UN Population Fund with the support of the Swedish Government, shows a 20.6 percent decrease compared to 2016 in the number of respondents believing struggling for the equality for LGBTQI people equals carrying out a “propaganda of one's way of life toward others”. 

It also reveals an almost 20 percent decline in negative attitudes toward human rights activists of the queer community. 

• Find the full Study of societal attitudes, knowledge and information regarding the LGBTQI communities and their rights in Georgia 

At the same time, the inquiry also found almost half of the respondents (48.2 percent) agreed with a statement that said LGBTQI people were struggling “for privileges and not equality”, with 39.5 percent believing the rights of the community were protected in Georgia.

Additionally, 38.6 percent of respondents believe the state does not “respond properly” to facts of violence and discrimination against LGBTQI groups, while 30.7 percent of respondents rated responses of state authorities as “adequate”.

Published separately, a report on the Human Rights Situation of the LGBTQI Communities in Georgia, prepared by the country’s Public Defender, said a survey conducted by the UNFPA in 2020 had found 83 percent of men in Georgia were “ashamed” of having a homosexual child, while 74 percent of women shared the same sentiment in the country.

The report emphasised the importance of a “proper state-level recognition” of the rights of the LGBTQI community and the adoption of “effective, comprehensive measures” tailored to the group’s needs.