New survey points to declining negative attitude toward LGBTQI people 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”. Photo: Tbilisi Pride/Facebook Archive
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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.
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.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that the Georgian authorities failed to protect the LGBT demonstrators from the homophobic mob on the International Day Against Homophobia back in 2013, obliging Georgia to pay damages amounting to €193,500.
On International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), the diplomatic corps and international organisations express support for and solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) community in Georgia.
Police will ensure public order, safety and freedom of expression during the events marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in Tbilisi between May 15-20, the Interior Ministry says.
Ambassadors of the EU, US, UK and UN, in addition to other high-ranking foreign officials, have ‘welcomed the efforts’ undertaken by the Georgian government to help the LGBTQI+ community and other vulnerable and marginalised groups 'weather the pandemic', urging them ‘to heed their voices and address their needs without bias or discrimination’.
The Georgian Government’s responsibility to safeguard the rights to peaceful assembly of LGBTQI+ persons, prevent discrimination and violence and ensure commemoration of IDAHOBIT, the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia “openly and publicly” were stressed by the diplomatic missions in Georgia on Monday.
The safety and freedom of expression and assembly of “each individual” will be protected during the upcoming Tbilisi Pride Week, Georgia’s Interior Ministry announced on Monday.
Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into threats issued by the right-wing organisation Alt-Info ahead of the planned Tbilisi Pride Week, organised by the LGBTQ+ community and set to start in the capital on Tuesday, Interpressnews reported on Monday.
The programme for this year’s Tbilisi Pride Week kicked off on Tuesday in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi with a screening of Wet Sand, an award-winning feature by director Elene Naveriani.
A new survey released on Friday by the US National Democratic Institute and CRRC Georgia showed an increase in support for protection of LGBTQI+ rights in the country.
Georgia’s Interior Ministry on Friday pledged to ensure safety for the ongoing Tbilisi Pride Week, ahead of the concluding event of the queer community festival in the Georgian capital on Saturday.