Kazakhstan Senate approves ban on positive depictions of LGBTQ people

‘Anti-LGBTQ propaganda’ ban follows in the footsteps of Russia and Uganda.

A bill to ban so-called LGBTQ propaganda won approval from the Kazakhstan Senate yesterday, which sent it on to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his signature, which he is expected to give.

The bill would ban “‘LGBT propaganda’ online or in the media” with “fines for violators and up to 10 days in jail for repeat offenders.”

The action aligns the Central Asian nation more closely to Russia, which has banned positive depictions of the LGBTQ community since 2013.

The Washington Blade reported: “If enacted, these provisions would undermine fundamental rights guaranteed under Kazakhstan’s Constitution, particularly the principle of equality and non-discrimination, by directly targeting and stigmatizing LGBTI people and anyone perceived to support them,” said ILGA-Europe in a statement after Thursday’s vote.

The nations of Georgia, Hungary and Uganda also have anti-LGBTQ propaganda laws.