Kazakhstan lawmakers advance bill criminalizing “LGBTQ+ propaganda”

Kazakhstan’s Parliament Advances Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation, Drawing International Concern

Lawmakers in Kazakhstan have granted preliminary approval to controversial amendments that would ban LGBTQ+ “propaganda” in online platforms and media across the Central Asian nation. According to Reuters, the proposed legislation could impose penalties of up to 10 days imprisonment for repeat offenders.

The amendments now await a final vote by the full parliament before being presented to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his signature. Political analysts expect the legislation to pass both hurdles, given Tokayev’s previously expressed skepticism toward LGBTQ+ rights and his history of signing similar restrictive measures.

This legislative move mirrors Russia’s approach to LGBTQ+ issues. In 2013, Moscow criminalized what it termed “LGBTQ+ propaganda,” and in 2022, it expanded the scope of these restrictions. The pattern reflects a broader trend of tightening social controls in former Soviet republics, where traditional values are often invoked as justification for limiting civil liberties.

The proposed law has triggered significant pushback from human rights organizations. In September, a coalition including ILGA-Europe, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the World Organisation Against Torture issued a joint statement urging Kazakhstan to abandon the legislation.

“Moving forward with any proposed legislation banning so-called anti-LGBTI ‘propaganda’ would significantly undermine the rights to freedom of expression, non-discrimination, and access to information in Kazakhstan,” the statement read. The groups emphasized that such laws contravene international human rights standards and increase stigma, bullying, and mental health risks for LGBTQ+ individuals.

The Kazakh government has attempted to justify the amendments by citing research from the National Endowment for Prosperity, a government-run organization. According to their findings, over 67% of respondents supported “restricting LGBTQ+ propaganda.” However, critics note that the full study and its methodology have not been released to the public, raising questions about the validity of these claims.

Human rights advocates have directly challenged the government’s child protection rationale for the legislation. “The introduction of such a law would not protect children; it would harm them. It would not strengthen society; it would divide it,” the coalition statement continued.

Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest economy and a major oil producer, has maintained closer ties with Russia than with Western nations since gaining independence in 1991. However, the country has also sought to present itself as a modernizing force in the region, attracting international investment and attempting to balance relations between global powers.

This legislative initiative comes amid increasing pressure on LGBTQ+ rights globally. Similar restrictive laws have emerged in Hungary, Uganda, and several regions of the Middle East, reflecting what some observers describe as a coordinated international pushback against the expansion of LGBTQ+ protections.

Local activists fear the law could have far-reaching consequences beyond its stated aims. Media organizations could face censorship when reporting on LGBTQ+ issues, educational resources might become inaccessible, and even health information related to HIV prevention could potentially fall under the broad definition of “propaganda.”

The human rights coalition has called on Kazakhstan to adhere to its constitutional guarantees and United Nations human rights obligations, emphasizing that the country “has an opportunity to uphold its constitutional values and international obligations.”

As the legislation progresses through Kazakhstan’s political system, international organizations continue to monitor developments closely, with many expressing concern about the potential regional ripple effects if the amendments become law.