Hostile school environment and no government partnership with civil society: -5/10 | There is no evidence of the government providing funding or working in partnership with civil society: 0/10 | The government provides funding and works in partnership with civil society to promote inclusive education for one ground of discrimination: 5/10 | Two grounds: 7.5/10 | Three grounds: 10/10
The political climate has become increasingly hostile towards LGBTQI people since 2018. In June 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Istanbul Convention was based on “gender ideology” and therefore incompatible with the Constitution. Despite repeated calls by the Council of Europe and the European Parliament to ratify the treaty, political leaders have since repeatedly vowed not to. The anti-gender rhetoric has become ever stronger and hostile, and commonly used by political leaders. Hate crimes continue to be common, in some cases committed against young people.
In 2020, local NGOs Bilitis and Single Step published Attitudes towards LGBTI students in Bulgarian high schools, finding that a staggering 71% of LGBTI student respondents had been verbally harassed, 34% physically harassed and 19% physically assaulted. More than a half or respondents heard anti-LGBTI remarks from teachers.
In 2024, a controversial law passed in Bulgaria prohibiting schools from positively representing LGBTQI people or talking about LGBTQI communities and identities. The amendment to the country’s education code prohibits the “propaganda, promotion or incitement” of LGBTQI “ideas and views” in schools.
In 2024, Single Step conducted the second national survey on the experiences of LGBTQI students in Bulgaria. The survey results showed that 67.6% of LGBTQI students had already experienced verbal harassment, 23.8% had experienced physical bullying and that 12.2% had been assaulted at school due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The survey findings highlight the need for systemic change and active challenges to anti-LGBTQI discrimination in Bulgaria, which are essential to ensure safety and support for all students in Bulgaria.
There is no information available about LGBTQI-specific extracurricular activities taking place in schools.
The above information demonstrates that the government does not provide funding, nor does it actively work in partnership with NGOs in relation to education.
