Grapevine

Georgia’s president refuses to sign anti-LGBTQ bill

Georgia’s president has earned scorn from the country’s prime minister after refusing to sign a controversial “anti-LGBTQ bill” into law.

President Salome Zourabichvili refused on Wednesday to sign off on the legislation, approved by parliament last month, which would ban gender transition, adoption by gay and transgender people, and nullify same-sex marriages performed abroad.

The move against the so-called family values bill, which was pushed through by the governing Georgian Dream party, comes about three weeks before crucial parliamentary elections on October 26.

“President Zourabichvili refused to sign the bill and returned to parliament without vetoing it,” presidency spokeswoman Marika Bochoidze told the AFP news agency.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reacted angrily, accusing the liberal head of state of failing families and minors, according to Georgian media.