Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has signed into law an amendment that bans the “promotion” of LGBTQ+ topics in schools, despite calls for a veto from intellectuals and a protest by rights groups on August 15.
The newly enacted law prohibits the “propaganda, promotion, or incitement” of ideas related to nontraditional sexual orientations and gender identities within the education system. This measure will be officially published in the August 16 issue of Bulgaria’s State Gazette.
In an open letter, hundreds of Bulgarian academics urged President Radev to veto the amendment, arguing that it addresses “a problem that does not exist” in the nation’s schools. They believe the law would instead “normalise political attacks” against the LGBT community.
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, also appealed to Radev not to sign the law, expressing his deep concern over the ban.
While Radev did not respond to these appeals, his press office stated that his decision to sign the amendment reflects his stance on the issue.
On August 15, hundreds of protesters gathered in Sofia to express their outrage, demanding Radev’s resignation. They chanted slogans such as “Fascism kills, power covers up” and “Shame on you.” Initially calling for the president to veto the “disgraceful” bill, the protesters shifted their demands to his resignation and the repeal of the law once it became clear that he had signed it.
One protester, speaking to the crowd outside the presidency, declared, “We are here because we will not tolerate falling into the black hole of fascism.”
At the same time, a counterprotest organised by the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party took place at another location in the capital. Both protests were held under heightened police security.
The amendment, introduced by the pro-Russian far-right Revival party, was approved with 159 votes in favour, 20 against, and ten abstentions.
Additionally, lawmakers passed another amendment to the education law, which defines “nontraditional sexual orientation” as differing from “generally accepted and established notions” of attraction between people of opposite sexes. This text also passed but with a narrower majority.
Supporters of the amendments argue that they are in accordance with Bulgaria’s constitution, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman and is rooted in Orthodox Christian values.
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