Council of Europe “deeply concerned” after Bulgaria’s parliament passes ban on the “promotion” of “non-traditional” sexual orientation and/or gender identity

The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty, has said he was “deeply concerned” by an LGBTQ “promotion” ban passed by Bulgaria’s parliament, urging President Rumen Radev “not to sign it”.

Earlier in August, the Balkan state, which does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions, passed changes to its education law, widening its scope to ban LGBTQ “propaganda” in schools in what rights groups have slammed as “discriminatory”.

The law now 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”.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, O’Flaherty said he was: “deeply concerned by the recent law passed by Bulgaria’s Parliament to ban so-called LGBTI ‘propaganda’ in schools”.

“I call on President Radev not to sign it,” he said.

“Authorities should tackle discrimination and hostile rhetoric against LGBTI people, including in the run-up to elections.”

The amendment, which was proposed by the European Union country’s pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party, sparked protests in the capital with demonstrators chanting “Shame on you”.