No LGBTI topics in schools: Bulgaria bans non-heterosexual topics in schools

Following Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, Bulgaria has also banned non-heterosexual messages to young people. On Wednesday, the parliament in Sofia passed a corresponding amendment to the school law in a fast-track procedure. This prohibits propaganda or incitement to “non-traditional sexual orientation” or gender self-determination that deviates from the sex assigned at birth in preschools and schools.

In the EU, there are similar restrictions in the member states of Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Outside the EU, for example in Russia, the rights of gay, lesbian and other queer people are massively restricted.

Don’t follow Russia’s path!

The amendment to the law banning non-heterosexual topics in schools was introduced in the Bulgarian parliament by the pro-Russian and nationalist party Vazrashdane (German: Rebirth). This also defines what a “non-traditional sexual orientation” is. The amendment was also supported by parliamentarians from the center-right alliance Gerb-SDS, the populist party ITN, the Socialists and part of the Turkish party DPS. The liberal-conservative alliance PP-DB voted against the amendment in particular.

Supporters of the LGBTQI+ community protested against the amendment to the law in front of the parliament building in Sofia in the evening. “We will not be silent,” they shouted. “Do not repeat Russia’s path” was written on posters.

The English abbreviation LGBTQI+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex people. Queer refers to non-heterosexual people or people who do not identify with the traditional role model of man and woman or other social norms surrounding gender and sexuality.