A series of research examines the human rights and legal protection available for the LGBTQI community in Georgia and analyses public perceptions and attitudes comparing the results with the previous studies carried out in 2016.

The studies were implemented in 2021, by the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia and the Women’s Initiatives Support Group with assistance from the Government of Sweden and three UN agencies – UNDP, UN Women and UNFPA.

Some of the findings include:

• The LGBTQI community remains one of the least protected and most marginalized in Georgia. Most of the challenges faced by the community, including hostile attitudes, discrimination and violence, have not been sufficiently addressed from 2016 through 2021.
• However, the research also shows positive changes in public attitudes toward the LGBTQI community. The number of people with an extremely negative attitude toward the LGBTQI community and its human rights defenders has decreased by around 20 percent.
• Compared to 2016, fewer people think that the LGBTQI community strives for propaganda rather than equality (55.9 percent in 2021 compared to almost 78 percent in 2016).
• 38.6 percent of the respondents highlight inadequate state response to the acts of violence and discrimination faced by the LGBTQI community.
• However, 48.2 percent of respondents still believe that LGBTQI people are fighting for privileges, while 39.5 percent are convinced that their rights are fully protected.