‘Family values’ bill is adopted despite being denounced by the president, rights groups and the European Union.

Georgian politicians have approved the third and final reading of a law on “family values and the protection of minors” that would impose sweeping curbs on LGBTQ rights.

The bill, adopted on Tuesday, would provide a legal basis for authorities to outlaw Pride events and public displays of the LGBTQ rainbow flag, and to impose censorship of films and books.

It also bans gender transition, adoption by gay and transgender people, and nullifies same-sex marriages performed abroad on Georgian territory.

In a vote boycotted by the opposition, politicians from the ruling Georgian Dream voted 84 to 0 to approve the bill along with related amendments to a number of other laws.

Leaders of the governing Georgian Dream party say it is needed to safeguard “traditional moral standards” in Georgia, whose deeply conservative Orthodox Church is highly influential.

Tamara Jakeli, director of the campaign group Tbilisi Pride, said the bill, which also restates an existing ban on same-sex marriage and bans gender reassignment surgery, would likely force her organisation to close its doors.

“This law is the most terrible thing to happen to the LGBT community in Georgia,” Jakeli, 28, told the Reuters news agency. “We will most likely have to shut down. There is no way for us to continue functioning.”

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, whose powers are mostly ceremonial, has been a critic of Georgian Dream and indicated that she will block the bill.

However, Georgian Dream and its allies have enough seats in parliament to override her veto.

LGBTQ rights are a fraught topic in Georgia, where polls show broad disapproval of same-sex relationships, and the constitution bans same-sex marriage.

Participants in Tbilisi’s annual Pride marches have come under physical attack by anti-LGBTQ protesters in recent years.

The issue has become more prominent ahead of the upcoming October 26 election, where Georgian Dream is seeking a fourth term in office and is campaigning heavily against LGBTQ rights.

The governing party, whose top candidate for the election is billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has deepened ties with neighbouring Russia as relations with Western countries have soured.

Earlier this year, it passed a law on “foreign agents” that European and United States critics said is authoritarian and Russian-inspired. Its passage prompted some of the largest protests that Georgia has seen since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Opinion polls suggest the party, which in 2014 passed a law banning anti-LGBTQ discrimination before later pivoting to more conservative positions, remains Georgia’s most popular, though it has lost ground since 2020, when it won a narrow majority in parliament.

In one governing party advertisement aired on Georgian television, Pride director Jakeli’s face is shown alongside the words: “No to moral degradation”.

The European Union has said the bill’s adoption would have “important repercussions” on EU-hopeful Tbilisi’s European integration path and “will place further strain on EU-Georgia relations”.

“The EU recalls that Georgia’s accession process is de facto halted and urges the authorities to recommit to the EU integration path,” the EU has said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville football program is coming out of the first bye week of their season, and their first matchup vs. a power conference opponent is awaiting on the other side, with Georgia Tech coming to L&N Stadium this weekend for Louisville’s ACC opener.

The No. 19/20 Cardinals (2-0, 0-0 ACC) haven’t faced stout competition to open their season, but have dominated the two teams in front of them. They opened up the 2024 season with a 62-0 demolition of Austin Peay, then followed that up with a 49-14 beatdown over Jacksonville State.

As for the Yellow Jackets (3-1, 1-1 ACC), they were able to bounce back after a slight hiccup. A week removed from falling 31-28 at Syracuse for their first loss of the season, they were able to get back in the win column with a 59-7 victory against FCS foe VMI.

This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Louisville and Georgia Tech, with the Yellow Jackets holding a 2-1 advantage in the series. While GT won the first two showdowns, the Cardinals won the most recent matchup, claiming a 39-34 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. back on Sept. 1, 2023 in what was Jeff Brohm’s first game as the head coach of his alma mater.

(Photo of Haynes King, Ashton Gillotte: Brett Davis – Imagn Images)

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A look at the spread between Georgia vs Alabama for the week five matchup.

The Georgia Bulldogs are on a bye week as are the Alabama Crimson Tide this week following week three action and ahead of their week five matchup. Georgia is coming off of a week three scare in which they squeaked by Kentucky by a final score 13-12 while the Crimson Tide routed the Wisconsin Badgers. Both teams are 3-0 heading into this highly anticipated matchup and the betting odds for this game indicate a typical Georgia vs Bama game.

This year’s game will have a different look and feel to it. Nick Saban will not be on the other sideline across from Kirby Smart for the first time in Smart’s career and Georgia will be making the trip to Tuscaloosa for the first time since 2020. This is the first of three keynote road trips Georgia will be making this season as they will also travel to Texas and Ole Miss later in the year, and despite their rough performance against Kentucky, the sportsbooks still like the Dawgs.

Georgia vs Alabama Betting Odds:

According to Draft Kings, Georgia is a 4.5-point favorite. This is a line that is definitely expected to move throughout the next two weeks as the game inches closer, but for now, the Bulldogs remain the favorite heading into this top-5 game.

ODDS DISCLAIMER: Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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