Bulgaria’s National Assembly recently approved an amendment to its Pre-School and School Education Act, which prohibits the promotion of LGBTQ+ views in schools. The law, introduced by the far-right and pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane, received overwhelming support in parliament, with 135 votes in favor, 57 against, and eight abstentions.
The new law specifically aims to ban any promotion, incitement, or propaganda of non-traditional sexual choices and gender identifications in the Bulgarian education system. In a separate vote, lawmakers defined non-traditional sexual choices as those different from the general Bulgarian legal notions of romantic or emotional attraction between opposite sexes.
In response to the amendment, protests organized by feminist and LGBTQ+ organizations erupted in Bulgaria. Protestors took to the streets to condemn the law, chanting statements such as “veto the law,” “shame on you,” and “we will not put up.” Despite the strong opposition, there were no reports of violence at the protests.
The law has faced criticism from various NGOs and human rights advocacy groups. LGBTQ+ NGO Forbidden Colors condemned Bulgaria’s recent legislation, labeling it as a “blatant attack on children’s rights” and drawing parallels to anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda laws in Russia and Hungary, which also ban LGBTQ+ promotions to minors.
Bulgaria’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights has been a point of contention, as the country currently does not recognize same-sex marriage. In the most recent Rainbow Map created by ILGA-Europe, Bulgaria was ranked third-worst among the 27 EU Member States for LGBTQ+ rights protection in 2024. This ranking highlights the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Bulgaria and the need for greater inclusivity and acceptance within the country’s legal framework.
Overall, the approval of the anti-LGBTQ+ amendment in Bulgaria’s education system has sparked debate and controversy both domestically and internationally. As the country grapples with issues of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity, it remains to be seen how this legislation will impact the education system and the broader societal attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community in Bulgaria.
