Kazakhstan Set to Vote on Controversial Anti-LGBTIQ+ Law Amendment

Lawmakers in Kazakhstan are poised to vote on a draft law that would ban “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation” as early as November 12, raising significant human rights concerns from international organizations. The amendments, attached to an unrelated bill on archival affairs, have drawn criticism from seven prominent human rights groups who warn they would violate fundamental rights and increase vulnerability for LGBTIQ+ individuals.

The controversial provisions were introduced on October 28 by a group of parliamentarians after the original archival affairs bill had already passed its first reading in the lower house. This legislative maneuver has raised eyebrows among rights observers, who note the complete disconnect between the original bill’s purpose and the newly added anti-LGBTIQ+ provisions.

If adopted, the amendments would modify laws on children’s rights, mass media, online platforms, advertising, communications, culture, and education. The changes would also authorize authorities to suspend access to websites and digital content without court orders, creating a significant expansion of censorship powers.

The proposed law would establish “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation” as an administrative offense punishable by up to 10 days detention and financial penalties under the administrative code. According to activists present at discussions about the bill, the wording closely mirrors Russia’s 2013 “LGBT propaganda ban,” suggesting a concerning regional trend of rights restrictions.

“Adopting a ‘LGBT propaganda ban’ would blatantly violate Kazakhstan’s international human rights commitments,” the coalition of rights groups stated. These include Access Now, Civil Rights Defenders, Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, International Partnership for Human Rights, and Norwegian Helsinki Committee.

Troublingly, Elnur Beisenbayev, the executive secretary of the ruling Amanat Party who moderated a discussion on the amendments, reportedly told attendees that the text would only be published after adoption. The amendments have reportedly received support from multiple government ministries and the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to civil society members who attended the October 29 meeting, the amendments define propaganda as “the dissemination of information about non-traditional sexual orientation and adherence to it, conducted publicly or through mass media, telecommunication networks or online platforms, including in a deliberately distorted form, to an undefined circle of persons, with the aim of forming a positive image.”

This broad definition could potentially criminalize any positive or neutral information about LGBTIQ+ topics, severely restricting freedom of expression and access to information.

The timing of this legislative effort is particularly significant as it directly contradicts recent international guidance. On September 3, the UN Human Rights Committee called on Kazakhstan to “redouble its efforts to combat discrimination, stereotypes and prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons” and strengthen legal frameworks protecting their rights.

Kazakhstan’s existing legal landscape already lacks protections for LGBTIQ+ individuals. The country does not include sexual orientation or gender identity as protected grounds against discrimination in its laws, and authorities have denied registration to NGOs supporting LGBTIQ+ rights. Human rights groups have documented widespread harassment, violence, and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people, often committed with impunity.

Kazakhstan’s constitution guarantees protection against discrimination, freedom of expression, and the right to freely receive and disseminate information. The coalition of human rights organizations urges lawmakers to withdraw the harmful proposal and instead work with human rights organizations and LGBTIQ+ activists to improve protections.

International partners of Kazakhstan are being called upon to publicly condemn this legislative effort and encourage the country to uphold its human rights commitments. The bill must still pass a second reading in the lower house, be approved by the Senate, and receive the president’s signature before becoming law—providing multiple opportunities for intervention.