14.10.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Man expelled from reality show after saying that he was gay; homosexuality is legal in Georgia, but generally regarded as immoral ("Gay Man Expelled from TV Show") [ID 21315]

Document(s): Open document

18.09.2007 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Public officials in Georgia make homophobic statements ("Hate Crimes in the OSCE Region: Incidents and Responses: Annual Report for 2006") [ID 22044]

"

In Georgia, the head of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration stated in an interview that “a mass change of sexual orientation could be more harmful than our youth embarking on the road to organized crime”."

Document(s): Open document

07.05.2007 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Legislation of Georgia does not offer specific guarantees and instruments for protecting individuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; Georgia is still not very open towards gays and lesbians ("a-5456 (ACC-GEO-5456)") [ID 21087]

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As it is seen from the study, legislation of Georgia, although being in general in conformity with European standards with regards to prohibition of discrimination, does not offer specific guarantees and instruments for protecting individuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Therefore, it is recommended that provisions related to prohibition of discrimination in various legal acts be amended to specifically forbid discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation. Moreover, labour legislation should be improved for the sake of expanding anti discrimination provisions to other stages than the stage of employee recruitment.[…]

However, Georgia, as a post communist, orthodox and very traditional society, is still not very open towards gays and lesbians. In the large urban societies homosexuality is better accepted than in the rural areas. Concept of guest in Georgian mentality, however, would provide for an exceptional attitude towards visitors whether gay or not. It is very convenient to hold hands in public and greet each other by kissing on chick once – this is very common in Georgia."

Document(s): Open document

30.07.2003 - Source: EurasiaNet

According to rights activists, homosexuals find themselves discriminated against, but there are no complaints as it is impossible to speak about the rights of homosexuals ("Reputation for tolerance slipping amidst attacks against religious minorities") [#14882], [ID 19691]

"Nor is it just religious minorities that are under fire. Gvakharia says homosexuals and Armenians are also finding themselves being discriminated against. Ramishvili at the Liberty Institute agrees: "It’s absolutely impossible to speak about the rights of homosexuals because it’s hidden. It’s not reported. Nobody complains about violations, but you can detect this hate on every corner. I think it’s hate toward people who are different. When these hate speakers want to stigmatize someone, they are portraying their opponents as homosexual, Armenian, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Freemasons."

When Sandro Bregadze, a member of parliament from the Aghordzineba (Renaissance) Party, says on television that Hitler got it right when he drowned homosexuals, there is little or no protest. When Vakhtang Rcheulishvili, the leader of the Socialist Party, stigmatizes the leader of another party by calling him gay and Armenian, nobody bats an eye."

Document(s): Open document

22.07.2003 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Statements of interview partners with regard to the situation of homosexuals ("Reisebericht Georgien 18. - 25. Mai 2003") [#14436], [ID 5277]

"Gleichgeschlechtliche Beziehungen seien zwar nach Angaben der Helsinki Citizens Assembly
nicht verboten, de facto seien sie allerdings auch nicht erlaubt. Transsexualität sei
gesellschaftlich verächtet. Geschlechtsumwandlungen habe es in Georgien nach Angaben der Helsinki Citizens Assembly zwar schon gegeben, da die operativen Eingriffe allerdings im
Geheimen durchgeführt wurden und nicht an die Öffentlichkeit kamen, könne man keine
seriöse Einschätzung über ein eventuelles Gefährdungsrisiko für Personen, die sich einem
solchen Eingriff unterzögen, treffen. Homosexualität gehöre in Georgien nach Ansicht des
Mitarbeiters des CIPDD zu den absoluten Tabuthemen."

Document(s): Open document