Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has signed into law a recently adopted amendment banning LGBT "promotion" in schools despite calls to veto it from Bulgarian intellectuals as rights groups staged a protest against the measure on August 15.
The law, which bans "propaganda, promotion, or incitement" in the education system of "ideas and views related to nontraditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one," will be published in the August 16 issue of Bulgaria’s State Gazette.
Hundreds of Bulgarian academics urged President Rumen Radev in an open letter to veto the amendment.
The changes aim to tackle "a problem that does not exist" in Bulgaria's school system, the letter says, and would instead "normalize political attacks" on the LGBT community.
The Council of Europe commissioner for human rights, Michael O'Flaherty, had also called on Radev not to sign the law, adding that he was "deeply concerned" by the ban.
Radev did not comment on the calls, but his press service said he "has expressed his attitude to the changes" by signing them into law.
Hundreds of people demanded Radev's resignation at a protest in Sofia on August 15, chanting "Fascism kills, power covers up" and "Shame on you."
The protesters initially demanded the president veto the "disgraceful" bill, but after it became clear that Radev signed it into law, the protesters demanded his resignation and its repeal.
"We are here because we will not tolerate falling into the black hole of fascism," said one of the protesters, addressing the crowd in front of the presidency.
A counterprotest of the pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane took place simultaneously at a different venue in the capital.
The separate protests took place under an increased police presence.
The amendment was proposed by the pro-Russian far-right Revival party and passed with 159 votes in favor, 20 against, and 10 abstentions.
Lawmakers also voted on another amendment to the education law, which defines "nontraditional sexual orientation" as "different from the generally accepted and established notions...[of] attraction between persons of opposite sexes."
The text also passed but with a smaller majority.
Supporters of the amendments have said they reflect the spirit of Bulgaria's constitution, which stipulates marriage is only between a man and a woman and is based on Orthodox Christian values.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church welcomed the amendments in a statement published on August 8.
But many rights groups have criticized the move, calling it "an attack" on children's rights.
"The proponents of the law, the Revival party, and all those who voted in favor of the law claim that this is to protect young people," LGBT advocacy group ILGA-Europe said in a statement.
"However, the truth is that this is an attack on the rights of children, particularly LGBTI children," the statement said.
Domestic and international LGBT groups have said the wording of the Bulgarian legal changes has similarities to "LGBT propaganda" laws in Russia and Hungary, which have been criticized by rights groups for violating freedom of expression and promoting discrimination and abuse against LGBT people.
Researchers and human rights organizations routinely place Bulgaria among the worst countries in Europe for its record on LGBT rights.