From IDAHOBIT to The Day of Family Sanctity and Respect for Parents: May 17, Power, Public Space, and the Georgian Orthodox Church
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Since 2014, the Georgian Orthodox Church has reframed May 17, an International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), as “Family Sanctity Day.” This development has contributed to the marginalization and violence against the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia, as the Church exerts significant influence over public discourse. This article analyzes the factors that have contributed to the Church’s growing authority. The study focuses on Georgia, where Orthodoxy is closely linked to national identity and plays a massive role in shaping the national narrative. The study employs secularization and nationalism as analytical frameworks to explore how these processes illuminate the Georgian Orthodox Church’s ability to dominate public space, reframe national values, and use moral governance as a tool of political strategy and social control.
Family Sanctity Day; Georgian Orthodox Church; LGBTQ rights; May 17; Nationalism; Secularization
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