In a move that resonates with restrictive policies already established in other Eastern European nations, Kazakhstan’s parliament has taken a decisive step that deeply impacts the rights of the LGTBIQ+ community. This Wednesday, the lower house unanimously approved a law that prohibits the dissemination of what it calls “LGBT propaganda” both online and in the media.
For the reader who is aware of the global situation, this may sound sadly familiar. The legislation is not an isolated case; Its wording and spirit bear a notable resemblance to current regulations in countries such as Russia, Georgia or Hungary, where the protection of children has been instrumentalized to justify the criminalization of the visibility and expression of sexual and gender diversity.
What does the New Regulations mean?
The new law establishes severe consequences for those who fail to comply with it. Offenders face considerable fines and, for repeat offenders, the penalty can reach up to ten days in jail. This not only restricts freedom of expression, but also creates an environment of fear and invisibility for LGTBIQ+ citizens in the country.
The legislative process continues, and the text will now go to the Kazakh Senate, where its approval is considered highly probable. The final step will be the signature of the president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who in recent months has repeatedly emphasized the need to defend so-called “traditional values.” This presidential position provides the ideological framework that has driven the unanimous vote in a parliament largely loyal to its guidelines.
The ‘Child Protection’ Argument
The debate around the law has focused on the supposed need to protect youth. Gani Beisembayev, Kazakh Minister of Education, argued before the deputy that “children and adolescents are exposed daily to online information that can negatively impact their ideas about family, morality and the future.”
This argument, focused on a restrictive idea of morality, ignores a fundamental reality: misinformation and stigma are the true threats to the well-being of LGTBIQ+ children and adolescents.
Human Rights Reactions
Immediately, the response from human rights organizations has been overwhelming. The Belgium-based International Partnership for Human Rights stated that, if put into effect, the law would constitute a “flagrant violation of Kazakhstan’s international human rights commitments.”
Although Kazakhstan, a Muslim-majority country but with a largely secular system, legalized homosexuality in the 1990s, the social reality remains deeply conservative. This new legislation could be considered a significant setback, strengthening attitudes of discrimination and making life even more difficult for a minority that is already fighting for acceptance.
To Reflect:
How does a restrictive legal framework affect not only the LGTBIQ+ community, but society as a whole in terms of freedom of expression and diversity? When a State invokes “traditional values” to justify the limitation of rights, what tradition is it referring to and at what price?
