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Research in attittudes towards LGBTQ+ issues in Georgia have identified a strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, reflecting underlying homophobic sentiments.

Perception of LGBTQ+ People

Survey results from 10 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Georgia.

Overall

Overall

Perceived Safety*

Feel safe being open
Absence of verbal harassment
Absence of threats and violence
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.

Equal Treatment

Treatment at work
Treatment at school
Treatment by businesses
Treatment by religious groups

Visibility & Representation

Inclusion in education
Representation in entertainment
Political support
Out public figures

Culture

Pride/events
Nightlife
Dating life
Interest groups and clubs

Services

Health and wellness
Gender-affirming care
Support and social services
Advocacy and legal

History

Homosexual activity in Georgia

?

Homosexual activity in Georgia is legal.

Current status
Since Feb 15, 2000
Legal
Homosexuality has been legal for all genders in Georgia since 2000.
Mar 7, 1934–Feb 15, 2000
Male illegal, female legal
In 1933, an article was added to the criminal code of Soviet Georgia, which prohibited sexual relations between men. The mentioned article provided for up to 5 years of imprisonment.

Same-sex marriage in Georgia

?

Same-sex marriage in Georgia is banned.

Current status
Banned
The civil code of Georgia defines marriage as a union strictly between a man and woman.
Sources:
Civil Code of Georgia. Article 1106 (matsne.gov.ge/en/document/v…
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Georgia

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Georgia is state-enforced.

Current status
Since Sep 17, 2024
State-enforced
Georgia’s new anti-LGBTQ+ law bans Pride events, rainbow flags, and allows censorship of LGBTQ+ content in media.
Until Sep 17, 2024
No censorship
In Georgia, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
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Right to change legal gender in Georgia

?

Right to change legal gender in Georgia is illegal.

Current status
Since Sep 17, 2024
Illegal
Georgia recently passed strict anti-LGBTQ+ legislation banning gender changes on official documents
2008–Sep 17, 2024
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 2008, transgender people in Georgia can change documents and personal names to reflect their preferred gender after having undergone sex reassignment surgery.
Apr 5, 19722008
Legal, but requires surgery
Georgia was part of the Soviet Union during 1972 when the first sex change was performed and a trans man was granted legal gender recognition after completing surgery.
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Until Apr 5, 1972
Illegal
Georgia was a member of the Soviet Union in 1972 and before then legal gender recognition was not provided.
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Gender-affirming care in Georgia

?

Gender-affirming care in Georgia is banned.

Current status
Since Sep 17, 2024
Banned
Georgia’s new law bans gender-affirming care, blocking all medical treatments related to gender transition.
1998–Sep 16, 2024
Legal
Until 2024, gender-affirming care was legal in Georgia.
Legal, but restricted for minors
In 1983, transsexualism began to be professionally diagnosed in the Soviet Union, which allowed the prescription of hormone therapy.
Sources:
russiapost.info/society/lgbt
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Restricted
In 1926, the Soviet Union's Ministry of Internal Affairs legalized sex reassignment surgery
Sources:
russiapost.info/society/lgbt
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Georgia

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Georgia is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
According to the ILGA Europe, there's no recognition of non-binary gender in Georgia.
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Hate crime protections in Georgia

?

Hate crime protections in Georgia is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since 2022
Sexual orientation and gender identity federal law
Article 53 – Aggravating factors for punishment

Commission of crime on the basis of race, skin, colour, language, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, religion, political or other views, disability, citizenship, national, ethnic or social affiliation, origin, property or birth status, place of residence or other signs of discrimination with the reason of intolerance shall be an aggravating factor for liability for all respective crimes.
Commission of crime by one family member against another family member, against a helpless person, a minor or in his/her presence, with the extreme cruelty, with the use of a weapon or under the threat of using a weapon, by abusing the official position shall be an aggravating factor for liability for all respective crimes.
When imposing a fixed term imprisonment for a crime committed with an aggravating factor under paragraph 1 or 2 of this article, the term of a sentence to be served shall exceed, at least by one year, the minimum term of sentence provided for the committed crime under the respective article or part of an article of this Code.
If an article or part of an article of the Special Part of this Code refers to a factor under paragraph 1 or 2 of this article as to an element qualifying the crime, and if there are grounds under Article 55 or 63(1) of this Code, the procedure under paragraph 1 of this article shall not be taken into consideration when imposing a sentence.
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LGBT discrimination in Georgia

?

LGBT discrimination in Georgia is illegal.

Current status
Since May 7, 2014
Illegal
On May 7th, Georgia's landmark anti-discrimination law came into effect. It was passed to be granted a short-term visa-free regime by the European Union and passed despite strong internal pressure against it.

LGBT employment discrimination in Georgia

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Georgia is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2014
Sexual orientation and gender identity
According ILGA
SO
GI
GE
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LGBT housing discrimination in Georgia

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Georgia is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2014
Sexual orientation and gender identity
According ILGA
SO
GI
GE
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Same-sex adoption in Georgia

?

Same-sex adoption in Georgia is illegal.

Current status
Since Nov 16, 2024
Illegal
In September 2024, a law passed in Georgia explicitly banning gay and trans people from adopting children, even as singles under the Law of Georgia on the Protection of Family Values and Minors. It took effect 60 days later.
Until Nov 15, 2024
Single only
Both single individuals and married heterosexual couples can adopt. The Civil Code of Georgia defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Accordingly, same-sex married couples cannot adopt in Georgia. However, here is no prohibition against adoption based on the sexual orientation of an unmarried prospective adoptive parent.
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Intersex infant surgery in Georgia

?

Intersex infant surgery in Georgia is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
There is no official ban on unnecessary sex reassignment operations in infants in Georgia.
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Serving openly in military in Georgia

?

Serving openly in military in Georgia is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.

Current status
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Only 22 countries allow trans military service, Georgia is not one of them
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Blood donations by MSMs in Georgia

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Georgia is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Georgia

?

Conversion therapy in Georgia is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on conversion therapy in the country of Georgia.
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Equal age of consent in Georgia

?

Equal age of consent in Georgia is equal.

Current status
Since Feb 15, 2000
Equal
According to article 140 and 141 of the Georgian Penal Code, the age of consent for both homosexual and heterosexual sex is 16.


LGBT Rights by Region

View the LGBT laws in each individual region of Georgia.