President Radev decreed the promulgation of the changes to School Education Act that ban propaganda of non-traditional sex orientation

President Rumen Radev on August 15 signed a decree on the promulgation of the amendments to the Pre-school and School Education Act, thus expressing his attitude towards them. This is stated in a press release from the presidential press secretariat in response to questions on what attitude the head of state will take towards the amendments to the Pre-school and School Education Act voted by the National Assembly.

On August 7, Bulgaria's Parliament voted to ban the propaganda, promotion or incitement, in the education system in any way, directly or indirectly, of any ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological sex. The proposed amendments to the Pre-school and School Education Act were tabled by Vazrazhdane.

"Non-traditional sexual orientation" is defined as "notions of emotional, romantic, sexual, sensual attraction of persons of opposite sexes that are different from such notions as commonly accepted and established in the Bulgarian legal tradition," the text says.

The law changes were supported by 135 MPs, 57 voted against, 8 abstained.

Earlier this week, over 7,000 people and 76 NGOs urged President Rumen Radev to veto the ban. On August 8, Bulgarian Orthodox Church expressed satisfaction with the ban. On August 12, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, urged President Rumen Radev not to sign the ban on "propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation". He also urged the Bulgarian authorities to tackle the discrimination of LGBTQ people. The bill was also in the focus of a discussion during a joint meeting of the parliamentary committee of demographic policy, children and family and the committee of youth and sport, with the participation of various organizations.

Following the Parliament's decision, members of the public gathered in protests outside the building of the National Assembly building in the capital.

A total of 7,038 people and 76 NGOs urged President Rumen Radev to veto the ban. The initiative is by the WakeUp Foundation and the LGBT Youth organization “Action”.

On August 8, Bulgarian Orthodox Church expressed satisfaction with the ban. In a message, the Bulgarian Patriarchate expressed satisfaction with "the agreement reached on values of common importance for Bulgarian society, such as the upbringing, education and protection of the children of Bulgaria."

"The Holy Synod consistently upholds a position on the question of the notions of 'sex', 'marriage' and 'family', as well as on the need to bring up, educate and protect children in spiritual morality, on the basis of the teaching of Christ's Church about man as the greatest creation of God," the announcement said.

On August 12, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, urged President Rumen Radev not to sign the ban on "propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation". He also urged the Bulgarian authorities to tackle the discrimination of LGBTQ people.

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