The Secretariat of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has accepted the application from WISG and "Themida" against the TV company "Imedi" as admissible.

The disputed material, aired on September 17, 2023, is a reportage from the program "Imedis Kvira" titled "Victim of a Medical Scandal," presented by Irakli Chikhladze. WISG and "Themida" claim that the material violates the first (accuracy of information) and seventh (discrimination) principles of the Charter.

In the controversial segment, the presenter generalizes the experiences of one individual, discrediting the transgender community, reinforcing harmful stigma about the transition process, and contributing to their marginalization.

The reportage frames medical error and the so-called "regret" as frequent and dangerous trends, particularly related to the transition of minors and surgical operations. It misleadingly suggests that these issues are driven by "LGBT propaganda." However, statistics from the United States show that cases of "regret" after gender-affirming surgery are exceedingly rare, particularly among minors, with one study indicating a regret rate of only 1.5%.

By distorting this data, the reportage misleads the public, violating the Charter’s first principle regarding the accuracy of information. Furthermore, such misrepresentation further stigmatizes and marginalizes the queer and transgender communities.

The language used in the story, echoing homophobic rhetoric, is derogatory and offensive to the queer community. Journalists have a responsibility to avoid spreading discrimination, stigma, and hate speech. They must recognize the harm media can cause by encouraging discrimination and should work to counter such harmful narratives.

The Charter Council will consider the applications in open session and decide whether the principles of the Charter have been violated.