Bulgaria’s new anti-LGBTQ+ law is official. Opponents beg EU to take action.

Bulgaria on Friday officially published the text of a controversial law banning LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in schools after the country’s President Ruman Rudev failed to veto the bill on Thursday.
The amendment to the country’s education code, which was introduced by the far-right, pro-Russian Revival party and unexpectedly backed by pro-European Union parties, prohibits the “propaganda, promotion, or incitement” of LGBTQ+ “ideas and views” in schools, without specifying further details.
It passed by a large majority in parliament on Aug. 7 and led to protests across Bulgaria over the last week. The latest demonstration took place on Thursday in front of the presidential palace.
“This law is not just a Bulgarian issue — this is a Russian law that has found its way into the heart of Europe,” Rémy Bonny, executive director of Forbidden Colours, a group supporting LGBTQ+ rights, told POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook. “The European Commission must step in and hold Bulgaria accountable.”
Senior figures from the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup wrote last week to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli asking the Commission president to “urgently condemn” the new law.
“This law is a direct assault on the LGBTIQ+ community — in particular children,” wrote group co-presidents Kim van Sparrentak from the Netherlands and Marc Angel from Luxembourg. “Such ‘anti-propaganda’ bills put children and youth at risk by contributing to creating a threatening environment where LGBTIQ+ children can be subject to bullying, harassment and increased health-related risks.”
The European Commission told POLITICO that Dalli on Aug. 13 sent a letter to Bulgarian Education and Science Minister Galin Tsokov “to request further information on the legislation.”
“The Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to tackling discrimination, inequalities and challenges faced by LGBTIQ individuals — including in education, as outlined in our LGBTIQ Equality Strategy of November 2020,” a Commission spokesperson said.
Human rights organizations — including Action, Buditelkite, Forbidden Colours, LevFem, Feminist Mobilisations and Deystvie — have denounced the bill, and their petition asking the Bulgarian president to veto the amendment was signed by about 7,000 people. Academics have written an open letter urging likewise.
Kostadin Kostadinov, chairman of the Revival Party that introduced the legislation, last week called the adoption of the law “a historic breakthrough” and that “LGBT propaganda is anti-human and won’t be accepted in Bulgaria.”
Same-sex marriage is not recognized in Bulgaria, and the country has also not ratified the Istanbul Convention to combat violence against women.
Bulgaria was ranked third-worst in the EU for LGBTQ+ rights protections in 2024, with only Romania and Poland behind it, according to the LGBTQ+ advocacy group ILGA-Europe that evaluates European countries’ LGBTQ+ rights records annually.
Bulgaria’s law evokes legislation passed in Russia and Hungary in recent years attacking LGBTQ+ rights, while Georgia’s government has also introduced a similar draft law.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice and the Bulgarian prime minister’s office did not immediately reply to request for comment.