Bulgaria bans promotion of LGBT in schools

By Ihvan Radoykov

SOFIA (AA) - The Bulgarian parliament has passed an amendment prohibiting the promotion of LGBT in schools, as well as another one that defines the concept of "nontraditional sexual orientation."

The National Assembly Wednesday passed the Vazrazhdane (Revival) party's amendment to the Law on Preschool and School Education, 154-8 with 9 abstentions.

“The propaganda, promotion, or incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, in the education system of ideas and views related to nontraditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one," was declared illegal.

Commenting on the ban, Bulgarian Socialist Party President Korneliya Ninova said the amendment would help diminish the influence of the LGBT lobby in the country.

Recalling that the parliament did not adopt the Istanbul Convention, she said, "Don't touch the children. Stay away from Bulgarian children,"

She drew attention to the fact that the country's constitutional court, the Church of Bulgaria, and the leadership of the Turkish-Muslim minority have all been opposed to the Istanbul Convention.

With a smaller majority, the parliament also passed a separate text defining "nontraditional sexual orientation" as "different from the generally accepted and established notions in the Bulgarian legal tradition of emotional, romantic, sexual, or sensual attraction between persons of opposite sexes."

The lawmakers' support for the bill and its text reflected the spirit of Bulgaria's constitution, which states that marriage must be between a man and a woman, as well as Orthodox values.