Deputy Parliament Speaker Labels Alliance of Patriots MP Initiative as Discriminatory
Deputy Parliament Speaker of Georgia, Tamar Chugoshvili, criticized the MP of the opposition party Alliance of Patriots of Georgia (APG), Emzar Kvitsiani, for an initiative submitted to Parliament which envisages removal of the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" from the law.
Kvitsiani says that by including these two terms in the law, the norms were violated. According to him, the existence of the abovementioned terms in the legislation “contradicts the family institution, morality and religious teachings.”
“Although one of the fundamental principles for the EU is to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, any directive should be in compliance with Georgian traditions and culture, and this incompatibility should not be a hindrance to Georgia's path of European integration,” the MP said while presenting the initiative to lawmakers.
He added that one of the main principles of the European Union is diversity and “the Georgian culture and ethno-psychological peculiarities should have their own place.”
Kvitsiani also included the words of the Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II in his speech: "Georgia is in very poor demographic conditions, according to UN studies. As the nation is on the verge of extinction, the traditional family must be protected.”
Tamar Chugoshvili, who was leading the parliament sitting, had the microphone of Kvitsiani turned off. The confrontation began after the Vice-Speaker of Parliament called Kvitsiani out for unethical conduct due to the views expressed in the process of discussing the initiative. She said his initiative was discriminatory.
“Your entire initiative is totally discriminatory. Try to express your views on your initiative a little bit ethically,” she addressed the MP.
Chugoshvili was responded to by another MP of the APG, Ada Marshania, who accused the Vice-Speaker of having “incorrect values.”
“Your values do not coincide with our values, people who think differently. Your aggressive reactions to the draft law show this. You put people with different opinions in a discriminatory position,” Marshania addressed Chugoshvili.
During the discussions, one of the MPs of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, Alexander Erkvania expressed his support to the APG initiative, saying Georgia should not adopt such laws “that contradict the moral standards established in society.”
He noted that it was unacceptable for the public that the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" were written into the law.
“Everyone remembers the stirring and protest of society when Parliament sought an anti-discrimination law. We remember the request and position of the Patriarch and the Church about this issue. Unfortunately, Parliament did not consider this,” he stressed.
The MP believes that when discussing such issues, the stance of the Church does not interfere in the activities of the government.
The Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration did not support this legislative package during the committee discussions.
The initiative regarding removal of terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" from the legislation has been submitted to Parliament three times.
The anti-discrimination bill was passed in Parliament on April 2014 and was heavily criticized by rights groups as an ineffective legislation, failing to provide an effective mechanism for the enforcement of anti-discrimination measures. The bill has also come under attack from conservative and radical Orthodox groups.
The law prohibits any acts of discrimination including age, health condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or profession.
By Thea Morrison
Image source: Parliament.ge