Kazakhstan Bans Anything Promoting LGBTQ+ Rights

Kazakhstan Bans Anything Promoting LGBTQ+ Rights

We all know that this has not been the best year for LGBTQ+ rights, not only here in the US, but worldwide. Can politics just get off our dick and mind its own business? What is their hard on towards the queer community? Also, why does Grindr overload at every Republican convention? Well, that's a whole other story. Kazakhstan, Russia's twin, has just declared a government ban on anything that could be seen as promoting LGBTQ+ rights.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the bill, and the law goes into effect today. The law refers to LGBTQ+ content as inappropriate propaganda. Any violations are punishable with a fine of around $280 and a jail sentence for up to ten days. The sad thing about this bill is that it isn't just some power-hungry political party making a sweeping law. The citizens of Kazakhstan signed a petition more than a year ago, asking the government to ban LGBTQ+ propaganda. Can you imagine being a queer citizen in this nation, knowing your neighbors want your rights obliterated?

The law calls for “banning the use of media, literature, entertainment, and other events that promote nontraditional sexual relations and pedophilia." Yep, LGBTQ+ rights are being aligned with threats towards minors. Sound familiar? Gross. The data doesn't lie - most abuse towards children cannot be attributed to the queer community and, in fact, usually originates in conservative circles - just ask the Vatican.

This law is said to protect the traditional family and values. The Kazakhstan government said this policy reflects the many nations that have created legislation to protect families and youth. The nation hasn't outlawed being gay, just the promotion of anything LGBTQ+. So what the hell does that mean? In some opinions, just being out and living your gay life is propaganda.

Many international human rights groups have condemned the law, including the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, which stated, “Adopting a ‘LGBT propaganda ban’ would blatantly violate Kazakhstan’s international human rights commitments, including children’s rights to education, health, and information. Discriminatory and rights-violating provisions like those being proposed have no place in any democratic society, which Kazakhstan aspires to be.”

And heaven help anyone in Kazakhstan trying to speak out against the government. The nation has been going after journalists, raiding offices, and questioning reporters. That doesn't sound very democratic. Kazakhstan’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression - things that make you go hmmmmm.

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