TL;DR: Trans model Kesaria Abramidze, an outspoken voice on domestic violence, was killed in her home. A man known to Abramidze has been arrested in connection with the alleged ‘premeditated murder’. This case comes days after a national crackdown on queer rights in Abramidze’s home country Georgia. It is an upsetting reminder of why trans women are victims of assault.
Kesaria Abramidze, one Georgia's most well-known transgender women was killed in her home just a day after the country passed a major anti-LGBTQIA+ bill.
The interior ministry said it was investigating a "premeditated murder committed with particular cruelty and aggravating circumstances on gender grounds". It is reporting she was stabbed to death in the capital, Tbilisi, on Wednesday 18th September. Abramidze was 37.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested and Georgian media reported he was known to the victim. The murder has shocked the population of the Eastern European nation - BBC
Abramidze was one of the country’s first openly trans public figures. Her death comes within a day of the government passing wide-ranging legislation which bans same-sex marriage, gender-affirming surgeries, child adoption by 'non-heterosexuals' and 'the promotion' of same-sex relationships in schools.
These new laws are being likened to Russia's anti-LGBT bills. Georgia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, still has close ties to Russia and is increasingly aligning itself with the country - The Guardian
What do we know about the bill?
The bill passed this week with the votes of 84 of the 150 lawmakers. It includes bans on same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples and gender-affirming care, and a ban on depicting of LGBTQIA+ identities in the media similar to that passed in Russia. It also provides a legal basis for authorities to outlaw Pride events and displays of the rainbow flag. The Director of Tbilisi Pride has said it means the organisation will likely be forced to close.
Much like Victor Orban's moves in Hungary, another European country with close ties to Russia, these policies are based on 'traditional values' rhetoric. They were the cornerstone of the election campaign run by Georgian Dream, the new ruling party. The ultra-conservative Christian Orthodox Church, also popular in Russia, have widespread influence in Georgia.
The law still needs to be signed by President Salome Zourabichvili. He is a critic of Georgian Dream, and some reports suggest she may veto the bill. However, the party and its allies have enough seats in Parliament to override this, as the President’s powers are mostly ceremonial - GCN
Analysis: RIP Kesaria Abramidze
Kesaria Abramidze was a fashion model, actress and TV presenter. She was also the first person in Georgia to come out as transgender in the public eye.
She represented the country at the Miss Trans Star International contest in 2018 and had more than 500,000 followers on Instagram. But she was more than all of that. Abramidze used her platform to speak out, criticising the government’s approach to domestic violence and women’s rights.
She did this despite increasing human rights crackdowns in the county. In April this year, she was forced to temporarily flee abroad, fearing for her life after attacks from a former partner.
Human rights groups are not wrong to say her death is evidence of how the government's rhetoric and new laws are fueling violence against LGBTQIA+ people in the country.
It is particularly tragic that Abramidze spoke out about domestic violence and was killed in her own home, potentially by a man she knew. As we reported in last week’s newsletter, some studies have shown that transgender people are as much as four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent victimization, including rape and sexual assault.
Put this tragic story next to the lies and rhetoric about Trans+ people, and it becomes very clear what they are: distractions from talking about who the most likely perpetrators of violence against women are.
When there is so much hate out there, it's easy to get swept up in the doom.
It's crucial we tell vital stories like this one. But in our newsletter, alongside valuable nuanced reporting we sprinkle in the joy that is the lifeblood of why being LGBTQIA+ is so simply wonderful.
While the rest of the media cashes in on hate about us, we can focus on queer joy because you drive us. The community. QueerAF readers - not advertisers.
Our members directly fund the content, so when you sign up - you get to have your say on how your funds are used.
This week’s Queer Gaze came about after Flora signed up and asked us to use their membership to invest in more stories about being queer and religious.
If you want to fund our unique approach to queer content and help us make more content about the joy in our lives - please, consider a membership.
We can't publish our content without you.
TL;DR: Trans model Kesaria Abramidze, an outspoken voice on domestic violence, was killed in her home. A man known to Abramidze has been arrested in connection with the alleged ‘premeditated murder’. We unpack how this case, which comes days after a national crackdown on queer rights in Abramidze’s home country Georgia, is an upsetting reminder of why trans women are victims of assault.
Kesaria Abramidze, one Georgia's most well-known transgender women was killed in her home just a day after the country passed a major anti-LGBTQIA+ bill.
The interior ministry said it was investigating a "premeditated murder committed with particular cruelty and aggravating circumstances on gender grounds". It is reporting she was stabbed to death in the capital, Tbilisi, on Wednesday 18th September. Abramidze was 37.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested and Georgian media reported he was known to the victim. The murder has shocked the population of the Eastern European nation - BBC
Abramidze was one of the country’s first openly trans public figures. Her death comes within a day of the government passing wide-ranging legislation which bans same-sex marriage, gender-affirming surgeries, child adoption by 'non-heterosexuals' and 'the promotion' of same-sex relationships in schools.
These new laws are being likened to Russia's anti-LGBT bills. Georgia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, still has close ties to Russia and is increasingly aligning itself with the country - The Guardian
What do we know about the bill?
The bill passed this week with the votes of 84 of the 150 lawmakers. It includes bans on same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples and gender-affirming care, and a ban on depicting of LGBTQIA+ identities in the media similar to that passed in Russia. It also provides a legal basis for authorities to outlaw Pride events and displays of the rainbow flag. The Director of Tbilisi Pride has said it means the organisation will likely be forced to close.
Much like Victor Orban's moves in Hungary, another European country with close ties to Russia, these policies are based on 'traditional values' rhetoric. They were the cornerstone of the election campaign run by Georgian Dream, the new ruling party. The ultra-conservative Christian Orthodox Church, also popular in Russia, have widespread influence in Georgia.
The law still needs to be signed by President Salome Zourabichvili. He is a critic of Georgian Dream, and some reports suggest she may veto the bill. However, the party and its allies have enough seats in Parliament to override this, as the President’s powers are mostly ceremonial - GCN
Analysis: RIP Kesaria Abramidze
Kesaria Abramidze was a fashion model, actress and TV presenter. She was also the first person in Georgia to come out as transgender in the public eye.
She represented the country at the Miss Trans Star International contest in 2018 and had more than 500,000 followers on Instagram. But she was more than all of that. Abramidze used her platform to speak out, criticising the government’s approach to domestic violence and women’s rights.
She did this despite increasing human rights crackdowns in the county. In April this year, she was forced to temporarily flee abroad, fearing for her life after attacks from a former partner.
Human rights groups are not wrong to say her death is evidence of how the government's rhetoric and new laws are fueling violence against LGBTQIA+ people in the country.
It is particularly tragic that Abramidze spoke out about domestic violence and was killed in her own home, potentially by a man she knew. As we reported in last week’s newsletter, some studies have shown that transgender people are as much as four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent victimization, including rape and sexual assault.
Put this tragic story next to the lies and rhetoric about Trans+ people, and it becomes very clear what they are: distractions from talking about who the most likely perpetrators of violence against women are.
When there is so much hate out there, it's easy to get swept up in the doom.
It's crucial we tell vital stories like this one. But in our newsletter, alongside valuable nuanced reporting we sprinkle in the joy that is the lifeblood of why being LGBTQIA+ is so simply wonderful.
While the rest of the media cashes in on hate about us, we can focus on queer joy because you drive us. The community. QueerAF readers - not advertisers.
Our members directly fund the content, so when you sign up - you get to have your say on how your funds are used.
This week’s Queer Gaze came about after Flora signed up and asked us to use their membership to invest in more stories about being queer and religious.
If you want to fund our unique approach to queer content and help us make more content about the joy in our lives - please, consider a membership.
We can't publish our content without you.
