Bulgarian Parliament Bans LGBTQ+ Propaganda in Schools
After a heated debate lasting over three hours, the Bulgarian Parliament has passed a law banning the promotion of LGBTQ+ ideas and gender identities in schools. The amendments to the Education Act, proposed by the Vazrazhdane party, were supported by 135 MPs from various parties, including GERB-SDS, MRF, ITN, BSP for Bulgaria, and independent MPs. 57 MPs from PP-DB and DPS voted against the ban, while 8 GERB-SSD deputies abstained.
The debate surrounding the amendments was contentious. Elisaveta Belobradova of PP-DB argued that the ban amounted to an election campaign, while Kostadin Kostadinov, the proposer of the motion, defended it as a necessary measure against "anti-human ideology." Kostadinov's position was echoed by MRF MP Yordan Tsonev, who cited the Bible to argue against tolerance of LGBTQ+ identities. Tsonev stated that "children must be left to develop according to God's laws."
The passage of this law has sparked controversy, with some praising it as a protection of traditional values and others condemning it as discriminatory and harmful to LGBTQ+ youth. The impact of the ban on Bulgarian schools and society remains to be seen.