Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has signed a law banning the promotion of LGBTQ issues in schools, prohibiting “propaganda, promotion, or incitement” of nontraditional sexual orientations or gender identities.
The amendment, backed by the nationalist Revival party, aligns with Bulgaria’s constitution and Orthodox Christian values.
The law has sparked protests and criticism, with opponents arguing it targets a non-existent problem and promotes political attacks on the LGBTQ community.
Similar laws have been enacted in Hungary, leading to significant controversy across Europe.
In May 2024, the U.S. Department of State announced it was funding LGBT events for Pride Month in the country of Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian grant of nearly $15,000 apparently went to support “Sofia Pride 2024 and LGBT rights as human rights through Bulgaria’s most popular and visited LGBT-related event,” spending records read.
Sofia Pride is the “largest human rights event in Bulgaria and a key to LGBTI+ visibility,” according to its website.
