Protesters in Bulgaria rallied outside the parliament to denounce a new legal amendment that bans discussions of LGBTQ and nontraditional sexual choices in schools. The protest, organized by feminist and LGBTQ rights groups, called for the reversal of the amendment, which supporters call “LGBTQ+ propaganda in schools.” The amendment was introduced by the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party and surprisingly backed by some pro-European Union parties. The law prohibits the promotion of nontraditional sexual orientation in schools. Bulgarian lawmakers also approved a law defining nontraditional sexual orientation as different from the traditional notions of attraction between persons of the opposite sex.
European Union member Bulgaria has faced criticism for violating LGBTQ rights and has been urged to protect and recognize them. The country has also refused to ratify the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women due to concerns about promoting LGBTQ rights. European rights groups, like Forbidden Colors, have condemned the legislation, calling it regressive and contrary to the values of equality and non-discrimination upheld by the EU. Similar anti-LGBTQ legislation has been passed in other countries in the region, such as Hungary, Bosnia, Moldova, and Turkey. The protesters in Bulgaria waved rainbow flags and chanted slogans like “Bulgaria is no Russia” to express their opposition to the new law.
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