Ministry of Culture Explains What Is Considered LGBT Propaganda
Photo: pexels.com, illustrative purposes
On the sidelines of the Majilis, Deputy Minister of Culture Yevgeny Kochetov explained that "propaganda" in the draft law on protecting children from harmful information does not refer to the mention of LGBT people themselves, but to a positive assessment of such actions, Orda.kz reports.
The Majilis has passed the bill in its second reading, and it will now be sent to the Senate.
Among other issues, deputies have been unable to clearly explain what exactly they mean by “propaganda” or how they plan to protect vulnerable groups from discrimination. How can such “propaganda” be distinguished from the lawful right to be oneself in one’s own country?
This question was addressed by Vice Minister of Culture and Information Yevgeny Kochetov. According to him, there should be no discrimination — the goal, he said, is the protection of children. However, the phrase “protection of children” has long served as a convenient pretext for repressive systems.
The official cited some U.S. regulations as examples but did not elaborate. Kochetov claimed that similar restrictions help reduce the number of child and adolescent suicides.
Journalists asked what, specifically, would be considered “propaganda.”
Would even mentioning the abbreviation be prohibited?
No, colleagues, that’s not the case. Propaganda refers to a positive public evaluation of such actions — for example, when someone publishes content encouraging a favorable attitude. As journalists, you know well what objectivity means and how to present facts so that the reader or viewer draws their own conclusions. We want children to be protected from having such things imposed on them. Information must be objective. If a person says they are a member of the LGBT community or publishes statistics, that does not fall under this law. The law is not aimed at restricting rights,
Kochetov explained.
Regarding restrictions on films and other visual materials with certain content, the vice minister said such content would simply be labeled “18+.”
Under the ban would fall appeals such as: being an LGBT person is better than being a heterosexual. That’s what would be considered propaganda,
he added.
The official insisted that the Kazakh bill is fundamentally different from the Russian one — “there's nothing in common,” he said.
Human rights organizations have stressed that such a law would grossly violate Kazakhstan’s international human rights obligations.
They called on parliament to reject the amendments.
Original Author: Artyom Volkov, Original Post
Latest news
- Kazakhstan’s Credit Rating Upgraded for First Time in a Decade
- While Thousands Lost Power, KEGOC Executives Received Nearly Half a Billion Tenge
- Changi Airport Group May Help Build Astana’s New Airport
- US Again Extends Deadline for Lukoil to Sell Its Assets in Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan Extradites Business Manager From Russia in 290 Million Tenge Tax Case
- Released Amur Tiger Successfully Hunts in Kazakhstan’s Wild
- Kazakhstan Moves to Develop Critical Minerals as Global Competition Intensifies
- Another Performance by Kazakh Stand-Up Comedian Called Off
- Uzbekistan Begins Preparations for Second Nuclear Power Plant
- Backpack Links Glacier Remains to Man Missing for 19 Years
- 650-Hectare Wildfire Contained in Karaganda Region
- Unusual Wildlife Encounter Captured in Altyn-Emel
- Retired Border Service Dog Sold for $2 at Kazakhstan Auction
- Will Kazakhstan Have Enough Coal This Winter?
- Belarusian Hikers Find Body on Glacier Near Almaty
- Kazakhstan Investigates Spending on 242 Million Tenge Educational Game
- Kazakhstan Makes Caspian Oil Companies Pay for Counterterrorism Deployments
- Kazakhstan Faces Shortage of 245,000 School Places
- Waste Dumping Reported Near Yurt Camps at Lake Zaisan
- Kazakh Oil Rerouted to Novorossiysk as Russia Frees Baltic Export Capacity
