Tbilisi Pride
{{Short description|Queer organization in Georgia}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Tbilisi Pride
| native_name = თბილისი პრაიდი
| logo = Tbilisi_Pride_Logo.png
| formation = 2019
| type = NGO
| headquarters = Tbilisi, Georgia
| leader_title = Director
| leader_name = Tamar Jakeli
| website = https://tbilisipride.ge/
}}
Tbilisi Pride is a non-governmental organization in Georgia. It was founded in 2019. During different times, it was led by director, prominent LGBTQ activist Giorgi Tabagari and co-directors, LGBTQ activists Mariam Kvaratskhelia and Ana Subeliani. Since 2024, the Director of the organization is LGBTQ activist Tamar Jakeli.{{Cite web |last=Masquelier-Page |first=Alice |date=2024-09-26 |title=Georgia's anti-LGBTQ+ measures raise fears of hate crimes in the conservative South Caucasus nation |url=https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/georgias-anti-lgbtq-measures-raise-fears-of-hate-crimes-in-the-conservative-south-caucasus-nation/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=The Associated Press |language=en-US}}
History
Tbilisi Pride was founded by Georgian LGBT activists Giorgi Tabagari, Mariam Kvaratskhelia, and more.{{Cite web |last=Ashton-Cirillo |first=Sarah |date=11 July 2022 |title=A year after anti-LGBTQ terrorist attack, Tbilisi Pride looks ahead |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/07/year-anti-lgbtq-terrorist-attack-tbilisi-pride-looks-ahead/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=LGBTQ Nation}}
In February 2019, organizers announced they planned to hold Tbilisi Pride from 18–23 June 2019, with a "March for Dignity" on 22 June.{{Cite web |last=Lomsadze |first=Giorgi |date=17 June 2019 |title=Anti-gay militia plans to thwart Tbilisi Pride |url=https://eurasianet.org/anti-gay-militia-plans-to-thwart-tbilisi-pride |website=Eurasianet}}{{Cite news |date=8 July 2019 |title=Small LGBT Pride Rally Held In Tbilisi |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-s-gay-pride-parade-cancelled-after-threats-received/30043630.html |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=19 June 2019 |title=Turmoil around Tbilisi Pride continues, LGBT march date kept confidential |url=https://agenda.ge/en/news/2019/1609 |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=Agenda.ge}} Other events would include a conference and a play.{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Alex |date=19 June 2019 |title=Organizers of Georgia's first Pride defiant amid threats of violence |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/06/19/organizers-of-georgias-first-pride-defiant-amid-threats-of-violence/,%20https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/06/19/organizers-of-georgias-first-pride-defiant-amid-threats-of-violence/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=www.washingtonblade.com |language=en-US}} Conservative Georgians reacted negatively to the announcement of the event, and responded with threats, and the Georgian Orthodox Church released a statement condemning the planned event.{{Cite news |date=14 June 2019 |title=Georgian LGBT Activists Face Off With Conservative Opponents |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/georgian-police-detain-at-least-eight-as-lgbt-activists-face-off-with-conservative-opponents/30000160.html |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}} In turn, Tbilisi Pride organizers called on authorities to investigate the threats and ensure attendees' safety. This demand was also echoed by Georgian NGOs.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2019 |title=Statement by non-governmental organisations on the 14 and 16 June events |url=https://transparency.ge/en/post/statement-non-governmental-organisations-14-and-16-june-events |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=საერთაშორისო გამჭვირვალობა - საქართველო |publisher=Transparency International |language=ka}}
On 14 June, LGBT activists gathered in front of a government building to bring attention to their demands. The group was counter-protested by anti-LGBT individuals, including several Orthodox priests; 28 counter protesters were detained. On 17 June, the Georgian Interior Ministry denied the organizers permission to hold the events, due to "security threats".
In light of these events, and ongoing political protests against Sergei Gavrilov, organizers postponed the March for Dignity to July 2019.{{Cite web |last=Lavers |first=Michael K. |date=23 June 2019 |title=Georgia's first Pride parade postponed |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/06/22/georgias-first-pride-parade-postponed/,%20https://www.washingtonblade.com/2019/06/22/georgias-first-pride-parade-postponed/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=Washington Blade |language=en-US}} After initially telling journalists the event had been cancelled, a small parade of about two dozen marchers was held on 8 July without incident. The parade was held for only half an hour, and dispersed after reports that extremist groups were gathering to confront the marchers.
The event was criticized by some Georgian LGBT individuals, who said that it was not organized by the local LGBT community, and would incite more violence against the community.{{Cite web |last=Ptskialadze |first=Giorgi |date=18 June 2019 |title=Opinion {{!}} I'm queer and I'm against Tbilisi Pride. Here's why |url=https://oc-media.org/opinions/opinion-i-m-queer-and-i-m-against-tbilisi-pride-here-s-why/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=OC Media |language=en-US}}
In 2021, Tbilisi Pride was launched on 1 July, with the March for Dignity planned for 5 July.{{Cite news |date=6 July 2021 |title=LGBT+ campaigners in Georgia call off pride march after office attack |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/protesters-storm-lgbt-campaigners-office-tbilisi-before-planned-march-2021-07-05/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |work=Reuters}} The parade was called off after the organizers' office and the parade route were attacked by violent counter-protesters. Fifty journalists covering the events were attacked, as the media had been largely sympathetic to Tbilisi Pride in the lead up to the event. Event organizers criticized authorities for not responding to threats which had been made in the month before the event, and Amnesty International criticized authorities' failure to protect attendees and journalists.{{Cite web |date=7 July 2021 |title=Georgia: Police totally failed the Tbilisi Pride participants |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2021/07/georgia-the-authorities-failure-to-protect-tbilisi-pride-once-again-encourages-violence/ |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=Amnesty International |language=en}}
File:2023 attack on Tbilisi pride..jpg on the parade]]
In 2022, Tbilisi Pride was held from 28 June to 2 July without a March for Dignity or other public events, due to security concerns.{{Cite web |date=2 June 2022 |title=Deputy Interior Minister says law enforcement will "prevent violence" after right-wing organisers call for disruption of Tbilisi Pride Week |url=https://agenda.ge/en/news/2022/2075 |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=Agenda.ge}} Instead, events included film screenings, a conference, and a festival in a private venue.{{Cite web |date=2 July 2022 |title=Police arrest 26 at rally against Tbilisi Pride Week |url=https://agenda.ge/en/news/2022/2535 |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=Agenda.ge}} Twenty-six right-wing counter-protesters were arrested at a counter-rally during the week of events.
The event was attacked again in 2023, during a closed festival event on 8 July.{{Cite web |date=8 July 2023 |title=A mob storms Tbilisi Pride Fest site, forcing the event's cancellation |url=https://apnews.com/article/georgia-lgbt-festival-pride-cancellation-ce5a1f6a162008e9a7de0d139d067358 |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Niamh |date=8 July 2023 |title=Tbilisi Pride festival canceled after violent anti-LGBTQ protests |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/08/europe/tbilisi-georgia-anti-lgbtq-pride-festival-intl/index.html |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}} Hundreds of counter-protesters, whom the police did not or were unable to restrain, vandalized the event's setup and burned Pride flags. Organizers called off the event, and all participants were safely evacuated.
References
{{Pride parades}}
Category:2019 establishments in Georgia (country)
Category:2019 in LGBTQ history
Category:Annual events in Georgia (country)
Category:Festivals established in 2019
Category:Festivals in Georgia (country)
Category:LGBTQ festivals in Asia
Category:LGBTQ culture in Georgia (country)