Kyrgyzstan moves to criminalize ‘homosexual propaganda’ and the world seems not to care

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — The fight for LGBT rights has in recent years created a rift that has separated much of the world into two camps and forced everyone to take sides. That rift is widening, reaching faraway places. On June 17, it reached my motherland, Kyrgyzstan, and my country is positioning itself on the wrong side of history.

At one time, after the end of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan was considered Central Asia's only democracy — an island of human rights in a stormy sea of authoritarianism and human desolation. Since then, my country has steadily regressed — a deterioration fueled by the warring political clans inside the country and by stronger neighbors, like Russia, outside the country.

Kyrgyzstan has now taken yet another step toward sinking into that deep, dark sea.

On June 17, the Human Rights Committee of the Kyrgyz Parliament approved a homophobic bill titled "On forming a positive attitude to non-traditional sexual relations." If approved, the bill would impose criminal and administrative sanctions on mass media, independent groups and others that disseminate information about LGBT people. It is the second committee of the parliament to approve the bill, which will now be reviewed at the parliament's plenary session.

Two of my colleagues from the Anti-Discrimination Coalition of Kyrgyzstan appeared before the committee during its deliberations. Both said that Kyrgyz parliamentary leaders appear to be deaf to any argumentation against the bill.

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They fervently believe that “propaganda of homosexuality” in Kyrgyzstan must be stopped — even if it means violating the Kyrgyz Constitution and all of the country's international obligations to protect the human rights of all Kyrgyz citizens.

Kyrgyzstan is already a highly homophobic — and transphobic — society. Law enforcement officers do not need any ”special” laws to arbitrarily arrest, torture, subject to physical or sexual violence, or extort money from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Should this bill be approved, the situation would become ten times worse.

But what truly breaks my heart, as an activist, is that it seems no one in the wider world cares.

When an identical bill was discussed and later passed in Russia, the whole world exploded with indignation, demands to withdraw the bill, boycotts of Russian products. But when it is a small, land-locked country somewhere in the middle of Eurasia — a country that is so insignificant in geopolitical terms that nobody remembers its name after an hour — there is hardly any solidarity.

The bill still has to pass two more parliamentary reviews before being submitted to the president for a signature. There is hope that the president will veto the bill, but chances are slim.

Because the countrywide discourse is that any ”normal” Kyrgyz citizen should support the legislation, Kyrgyz politicians are afraid of being labeled “gay” if they oppose it.

As this bill enters a new phase of consideration, I anxiously await the arrival of July — when the final vote will reveal the fate of my livelihood and, essentially, my life. Will the bill be passed and signed by the president? If so, how do I continue living in this country as a queer activist? Why must I keep my mouth shut about my (in)equality in this country? And where is the solidarity the rest of the world so generously offered Russia?

Syinat Sultanalieva is an LGBT activist in Kyrgyzstan.

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This piece is part of a new GlobalPost Special Reports/Commentary initiative supported by the Ford Foundation called "VOICES." The mission of VOICES is to present the ideas and opinions of those who are less frequently heard in the media, including women, people of color, sexual minorities, citizens of the developing world and young people. These voices will consistently discuss topics important to GlobalPost Special Reports including human rights, religious issues, global health, economic inequality and democracies in transition.