Kazakhstan decided to “partially support” a petition against “LGBT propaganda”

How the next meeting of the working group to consider the petition to ban “LGBT propaganda” went

Today in Astana, a public discussion of the petition “We are against open and hidden propaganda of LGBT in Kazakhstan” was held. The creator of the petition is the chairperson of the “Kazakhstan Union of Parents” Bagila Baltabayeva.

In June, a homophobic petition published on the official portal “E-Petition.kz” collected 50 thousand signatures. Now the Ministry of Culture is organizing meetings of the working group to consider it.

The position of the petition's supporters

The chairperson of the “Kazakhstan Union of Parents” Bagila Baltabayeva came to the discussion. She told journalists that she receives messages on social networks from "lesbian girls aged 10-11" who send the activist videos and photos of themselves kissing.

When asked why they wrote to her, Baltabaeva said that she simply "became popular" among members of the LGBTQI+ community. In her opinion, children fall under the influence of adult LGBTQI+s.

Journalists also asked Baltabaeva to comment on reports that some Kazakhstanis were forced to vote for the petition she created. To this, she replied that she "had not heard of such a thing." Baltabaeva personally traveled to the regions of Kazakhstan and "promoted" the petition among local residents.

Bagila Baltabaeva was also supported by representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education. Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Police Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Renat Zulkhairov stated that the number of crimes against the sexual inviolability of minors has increased in Kazakhstan. At the same time, he mentioned that "coercion to sexual intercourse, sodomy, lesbianism" has doubled.

He attributes this to the fact that information "about free sexual relations" is being disseminated in the media and social networks and that "children strive to parody what they see on the Internet." Ultimately, he reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs supports the demands of the petition authors on the need to "prohibit the propaganda of any sexual relations to minors, including LGBT."

Deputy Director of the Department of Organization of Medical Care Gulnar Sarsenbayeva, in turn, linked "LGBT propaganda" with advertising of energy drinks and vapes and also supported Baltabayeva.

"The influence of advertising and such marketing on the younger generation has a very negative impact on their way of life. LGBT propaganda can have a negative impact on the demographic situation in the country and form non-traditional values," Kursiv.Media quotes Sarsenbayeva as saying. 

One of the petition's supporters addressed the working group on behalf of all mothers with many children and said that because of LGBTQI+s, "the population of Kazakhstan will decrease, and the land will be torn apart by the West." In her opinion, the LGBTQI+ community should not be allowed to exist in Kazakhstan at all.

"We don't need LGBT! We need a population of 30-40-50 million. Because we are a huge land, we must protect our land!", said one of the petition's supporters.

Position of the petition opponents

The well-known human rights activist Yevgeny Zhovtis noted during the discussion that sexual orientation cannot be promoted and that homosexuality is not a pathology.

He recalled that the government of Kazakhstan stated that there is no discrimination against LGBTQI+ and that these people are protected by Article 14 of the Constitution, which includes the wording "and other groups." According to Zhovtis, the adoption of homophobic legislation will contribute to the creation of a violent environment. His speech was interrupted by shouts from supporters of the petition.

LGBTQI+ activist Mira Ungarova also spoke at the discussion, criticizing the homophobic petition.

“Instead of solving the problems of pedophilia, incest and violence in the country, you are discussing non-existent problems. If you want to solve real problems, support the country’s youth. Boys don’t want to go to dances because they are afraid that they will be bullied and called gays,” Ungarova noted.

Earlier, the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch demanded that the government of Kazakhstan reject the petition “against LGBT propaganda.” The Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity made a similar statement.

Results of the discussion

The Ministry of Culture decided to partially support the petition "in terms of demands to protect and shield teenagers and children from propaganda and the cultivation of sexual relations." At the same time, the Chairman of the Committee on Youth and Family Affairs, Kairat Kambarov, noted that additional scientific research is needed.

Another public discussion is planned for the near future. According to Kursiv.Media, the final decision on the petition will be known before September 6.

The Ministries of Science and Higher Education, Healthcare, and Education will also conduct an analysis and prepare a report on the impact of the "LGBTQ movement" on minors. The Ministries of Science and Higher Education and Healthcare will organize research work on LGBTQI+ issues in Kazakhstan in 2024-2025.

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