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Ten Thousands of Georgians March to Celebrate ‘Family Purity Day’ As Violence Grows Against LGBTQ+

On May 17, the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrated the Day of “Family Purity and Respect for Parents” with gatherings across Georgia, including in the capital Tbilisi. (Photo: Civil.ge )

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By Aakansha Malia

May 18, 2024
4:42 pm
Los Angeles, CA

Georgians celebrated a unique tradition known as Family Purity Day on May 17, with festivities spanning the streets of Tbilisi and 20 other cities. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili joined tens of thousands of marchers to honor the so-called family values of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which emphasizes marriage exclusively between a man and a woman. This has given rise in hostility towards sexual minorities in the country in Recent. The event took place along the same central avenue that has historically hosted some of Georgia’s most intense anti-government protests. The march culminated at the capital’s Trinity Cathedral, where Kobakhidze lauded the occasion for its role in “protecting the country’s identity, language, and faith.” Designated as a national holiday this year, the Georgian government now

The event took place along the same central avenue that has historically hosted some of Georgia’s most intense anti-government protests. The march culminated at the capital’s Trinity Cathedral, where Kobakhidze lauded the occasion for its role in “protecting the country’s identity, language, and faith.” Designated as a national holiday this year, the Georgian government now refers to it as the “Day of Family Purity and Respect for Parents.”

Participants in the Tbilisi procession carried icons, brandished Christian emblems, and adorned themselves in traditional costumes featuring intricate patterns. A march participant Rusudan Tabatadze said, “We are Georgians, and for us, faith is very important. It has withstood centuries, and it is important to stand together and defend our faith by all means. Our ancestors defended it in battles throughout the years and centuries, and it is our obligation to defend it as well.”

But this was not the only march that has taken place in Tbilisi— the Pro orthodox church and on the other side the Pro- European one. Thousands of demonstrators have filled Tbilisi’s streets for months, calling for the repeal of the “foreign agents” law, which they view as authoritarian and reminiscent of regulations in Russia. Protesters fear that this legislation could jeopardize Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union, after the United States and the European Union have repeatedly warned the ruling Georgian Dream party to drop the bill.

Additionally, young protesters are demanding the withdrawal of another bill introduced by the Georgian Dream party shortly after the “foreign agents” bill. This new legislation aims to restrict LGBTQ rights by prohibiting sex changes, adoption by same-sex couples, and gatherings perceived as promoting same-sex relations.

The tradition of observing Family Purity Day began in 2013 under the auspices of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which boasts the support of 3.7 million Orthodox Christians. Coincidentally, on the same day in 2013, activists protesting against homophobia faced an attack by a mob led by Orthodox priests. Liberal groups have raised concerns about the event coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, underscoring deep societal divisions amid an ongoing political crisis. Ana Subeliant, speaking to Radio Free Europe, reflected on the reluctance to organize events on the city streets on May 17 since 2018, stating, “We don’t want to provide any additional pretext for attacks on the queer community.”

A ray of hope for the liberal Georgians is the Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili who stands against the two bills and has pledged to veto them in the parliament. She told Associated Press on May 16 that, “It’s unacceptable because it reflects a turn of the Georgian attitudes towards the civil society, towards the media and towards the recommendations of the European Commission that are not consistent with what is our declared policy of going towards a European integration.”