LGBTQ+ rights at risk in Bulgaria as parliament approves anti 'propaganda' law
Human rights activists have called on the EU to clamp down on Bulgaria after MPs voted through an amendment to ban the promotion of LGBTQ+ "propaganda" in schools.
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00:00A new front is opening within the European Union in the battle over sexual identity.
00:06It follows Bulgaria's parliament's adoption by a large majority of a text which intends
00:11to ban so-called LGBT plus propaganda in schools.
00:16The law proposed by the far right wants to make material promoting of a supposed non-traditional
00:22sexual orientation illegal.
00:24For NGOs defending LGBT plus rights, the new text is a dangerous shift.
00:30After Hungary, Bulgaria is the second country in the EU who is introducing Russia's anti-LGBTQ
00:34plus law.
00:35But doing that, Bulgaria puts itself in the club of countries who is admiring Russia's
00:42anti-LGBTQ plus ideology over European norms and values.
00:48The NGO called on the European Commission to launch infringement proceedings against
00:52Sofia.
00:54The Commission's immediate response was that this was only a proposal for the time being.
01:00The text still has to go through the legislative procedure before becoming law.
01:08We remain steadfast in our commitment to tackling discrimination, inequalities and challenges
01:17faced by the LGBT individuals also as outlined in our strategy.
01:23We also have a clear stance on non-discrimination and we stand up for a union where you can
01:29be who you are.
01:31The bill comes in the midst of political chaos in Bulgaria.
01:36Voters will head to the polls this fall for the seventh time in three years.
01:41Ahead of the polls, different parties are seeking to strengthen their electoral interests.
01:48But observers say the law could cause tensions with the European Union.
01:52Two years ago, the Commission took legal action before the European courts to denounce
01:57the Hungarian law against the LGBT community.