Majilis Deputy Comments on New LGBT “Propaganda” Amendments

A Majilis deputy has commented on the recent amendments banning LGBT “propaganda”, Orda.kz reports.

While belonging to the LGBT community is not prohibited in Kazakhstan, the new amendments introduce administrative liability for public activity that is “construed as promotion or advertising.”

Zhanbyrshin stated:

Kazakhstan doesn't ban LGBT people from living in society. No one is imprisoned or fined simply for belonging. It's a personal choice. But if someone openly declares themselves to be a representative of the community, starts calling for membership, conducts propaganda, holds seminars and courses, campaigns, uses symbols on social media or in the media, and promotes this community — this is prohibited by law.

For example, in Canada, 25% of young people and teenagers aged 14–24 have experienced suicidal behavior at least once. In the US, 40% of people with same-sex orientation have experienced this. This is several times higher than among young people from traditional heterosexual families. The second problem is demographic and economic. In countries where such relationships are legalized and actively cultivated, the birth rate is very low. We are already a small people in a large territory,
 the parliamentarian added.

He concluded with advice to people with “non-traditional sexual orientation”: "Build relationships at home, not in public."

He then emphasized his own orientation:

Please, stay at home, with your spouse, as is customary. What you do at home is no one's business. Don't propagandize. I'm not propagandizing that I'm heterosexual! I don't go to protests. Please, manage your personal relationships. But don't cultivate this in our society.

Clearly, they need to distract the population, blame the 'enemy within,' so that people forget about their problems and don't demand accountability,
 Queer.kz founder Temirlan Baimash previously noted.

Expert Arj Tursynkan warned that rhetoric centered on “traditional values” could eventually be used against other marginalized groups, including ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and women.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina