Kazakhstan Lawmakers Approve First Stage of Ban on LGBT ‘Propaganda’

Kazakhstan’s parliament has taken a significant step toward banning what it refers to as LGBT “propaganda” online and in media outlets, with repeat offenders potentially facing up to 10 days of imprisonment. A parliamentary working group approved amendments on Wednesday that penalize what lawmakers describe as propaganda promoting non-traditional relationships and pedophilia.

The amendments closely mirror similar legislation passed in Russia and other former Soviet nations. With the working group’s approval, the measures are likely to pass when brought to a full parliamentary vote, as the legislature is dominated by lawmakers loyal to the Kazakh government.

Human rights advocates have expressed concerns about the implications of the proposed law. Tatiana Chernobyl, an independent Kazakhstani human rights consultant, told Reuters that the amendments “legitimize open discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Before becoming law, the amendments must receive approval from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has increasingly voiced support for what he terms “traditional values” in recent months. This shift in rhetoric aligns Kazakhstan with a growing trend of socially conservative policies in the region.

Kazakhstan, though predominantly Muslim, has maintained a largely secular stance since gaining independence from the Soviet Union. Homosexuality was legalized in the 1990s following the country’s independence, but social attitudes remain deeply conservative throughout the Central Asian nation of 19 million people.

During discussions at the working group, lawmaker Nurlan Auyesbaev defended the ban, characterizing LGBT advocacy as “an open threat not only to society, but also to the country.” This framing of LGBT issues as a matter of national security echoes rhetoric used in neighboring Russia, which has implemented progressively stricter anti-LGBT legislation over the past decade.

The move comes amid a broader regional trend. Several former communist countries, including Russia, Georgia, and Hungary, have enacted similar laws prohibiting the advocacy of LGBT relationships in recent years. These laws have faced widespread criticism from international human rights organizations, which argue they contribute to discrimination and marginalization.

Kazakhstan’s proposed legislation arrives at a time when the country has been seeking to position itself as more politically progressive and open to Western investment following political reforms initiated after widespread protests in January 2022. However, the push toward social conservatism on LGBT issues appears to be moving in the opposite direction.

The ban would add Kazakhstan to a growing list of countries implementing restrictions on LGBT expression and advocacy. Critics argue such laws not only violate freedom of expression but also put vulnerable communities at risk of increased discrimination and violence. Proponents, meanwhile, claim they are protecting traditional family values.

The legislation’s progress through parliament comes with minimal public debate in Kazakhstan, where civil society groups often face challenges in organizing around sensitive social issues. If signed into law, the amendments would represent a significant shift in Kazakhstan’s legal approach to LGBT issues, despite homosexuality remaining legal in the country.

Human rights organizations are closely monitoring the situation, with some expressing concern that Kazakhstan’s move represents a further entrenchment of anti-LGBT policies across the post-Soviet space, potentially influencing other Central Asian nations to follow suit.