Hundreds of opponents of gay rights gathered at the site of an LGBT festival in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, causing mayhem by vandalizing the stage, setting fires, and looting the event’s bar. The Tbilisi Pride Fest organizers swiftly evacuated participants from the scene, while urging the public to avoid the lakeside park where the festival was scheduled to take place.
Georgian news outlets estimated that around 5,000 people marched toward the festival site, with many waving Georgian flags and carrying religious icons. Animosity towards sexual minorities remains prevalent in Georgia, a predominantly Orthodox Christian country, and previous LGBT events have been marred by violent disruptions.
Deputy Georgian Interior Minister, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, acknowledged the safe evacuation of festival participants, but some criticized the police response as insufficient. Festival organizers lamented the police’s failure to block access roads to the event site, allowing an aggressive group to cause chaos. They also accused law enforcement of not employing proportional force against the attackers.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia, where acceptance and equality remain elusive. Despite the setbacks caused by the disruptive protests, the organizers and supporters of Tbilisi Pride Fest continue their fight for visibility, inclusion, and the right to express their identities without fear.
In conclusion, the clash between anti-LGBT protesters and the organizers of the Tbilisi Pride Fest in Georgia underscores the deep-seated animosity prevailing against sexual minorities in the country. The disruptive actions, including vandalism, fires, and looting, led to the evacuation of festival participants, prompting criticism of the police response. Despite these challenges, the LGBTQ+ community and their allies remain resilient in their pursuit of equality and representation, striving to create a society where everyone can live authentically and without fear.
