Bulgaria cracks down on LGBT ‘propaganda’ in schools

After criticizing the opening ceremony of the Paris Games, Bulgaria adopts a law that bans LGBT “propaganda” in schools.

The opening ceremony of the Paris Games on July 26th greatly displeased the Bulgarian leaders and the Orthodox Church: too many drag queens, too many homosexuals, too much lasciviousness… This debate (which mainly agitated conservative circles) did not spare Bulgaria, a former communist country that still refuses to authorize marriage or even civil unions between people of the same sex. The Bulgarian Parliament banned on Wednesday August 7th by a very large majority the “propaganda“LGBT at school.

For ten days, the Bulgarian far-right, pro-Russian party, Vazrajdane (“Renaissance”) has been surfing on this context: it speaks of “propaganda“of decadence, denounces a”unacceptable standardization” of “non-traditional sexual orientation“. After the opening ceremony, the controversy surrounding hyperandrogenic boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu Ting added another layer. Vazrajdane did not have to make much effort to convince the deputies who largely adopted his amendment (159 votes for, 22 against, 13 abstentions).

This text makes it illegal, within schools, to encourage this “non-traditional sexual orientation“. It is therefore impossible to be exhaustive and free in sex education classes. It is also difficult to combat school harassment of young lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

Demonstrators took to the streets of the capital on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 7, to protest against the adoption of this text, modeled on a Hungarian law from 2021, itself heavily criticized by Brussels. Under the pretext of protecting children, Budapest even banned advertisements with LGBT content that could be accessible to minors.

Brussels’ relations with Sofia are less tense than with Budapest, but they still look complicated, especially since in October, Bulgarians are returning to the polls for the 7th time in three years, which is also why the far right is taking a stand. This political instability is disrupting several European issues: the appointment of the Bulgarian representative to the Commission and entry into the eurozone, scheduled for 1 January 2025, is seriously compromised.

Attacks on LGBT rights could in turn represent a serious obstacle to the disbursement of funds from the European recovery plan set up after Covid. Because the various tranches are partly conditional on measures in favour of the rule of law. However, Bulgaria is not new to attacks on sexual minorities. In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights criticised Bulgarian law, which it considered too lax when it came to convicting perpetrators of homophobic murders.