LGBTQ+ rights at risk in Bulgaria as parliament approves anti 'propaganda' law

Bulgaria has passed a law banning LGBTQ+ "propaganda" in schools, in a new blow to human rights that advocacy groups and campaigners have widely condemned.

The amendment to Bulgaria's education law, voted through by parliament on Wednesday, bans the "propaganda, promotion, or incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, in the education system of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one."

Members of parliament approved the draft law with a large majority, giving it 159 votes in favour, 22 against, and 12 abstentions.

The amendment, suggested by the country's pro-Russian far-right Vazrazhdane party, also introduced a definition of "non-traditional sexual orientation" — which is being explained as contrary to Bulgaria's legal concept of "emotional, romantic, sexual or sensual attraction between persons of opposite sexes".

The law has sent shockwaves throughout Bulgaria, prompting protesters to take to the streets and human rights groups to slam its progression through parliament.

Activists and organisations such as LevFem, Feminist Mobilisations, and the LGBTQ+ organisation Action rallied under the slogan "School for all! Let's stop the hate!".

Forbidden Colours, an EU-wide LGBTQ+ advocacy group, said in a press release that it condemns the new law "as a direction assault on the fundamental human rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals, particularly children".

"It is deeply troubling to see Bulgaria adopting tactics from Russia's anti-human rights playbook," it continued. "Such actions are not only regressive but are also in direct contradiction to the values of equality and non-discrimination that the European Union stands for."

The wording of the law is