LGBT in Kyrgyzstan
Our partner, Transitions Online, has published an article by Genderstan blogger Anna Kirey on the situation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people in Kyrgyzstan entitled “Dangerous Attraction”.
Whilst there are glimmers of hope that the situation for LGBT people is gradually improving in the country, not least thanks to the activities of activists and groups such as Labrys, the general lack of observance of human rights in Kyrgyzstan makes it challenging to be even cautiously optimistic, as Anna reports:
In the face of powerful social opposition, some LGBT individuals and a handful of civic groups are pushing for social change and acceptance in Kyrgyzstan. The Bishkek disco scene includes three gay-friendly clubs (though they are not welcoming to lesbians), and activists are working to help community members who are victims of prejudice.
But the situation is still in many ways a bleak one. “Unfortunately, the trend is that there is a complete attack on human rights in Kyrgyzstan,” said Anara Moldosheva, a gender consultant with the Soros Foundation in Kyrgyzstan. “At all levels, including the highest levels of power, chauvinism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination are becoming almost a norm.”
Labrys recently published a 52-page booklet entitled “Homosexuality: The Reality of Kyrgyzstan” available in Russian and Kyrgyz (pdf format), with the aim of educating people about homosexuality and challenging many of the negative stereotypes about LGBT people. The booklet is written to include personal accounts from LGBT people in Kyrgyzstan, and covers a broad range of topics from what homosexuality is, relations with one’s parents and relatives, and homophobia and discrimination.
Certainly, going on the experiences of members of Labrys at meetings and press conferences, such neutral and humane information is greatly needed, not least to counteract the hyped-up “salacious” stories that some local newspapers publish from time to time.
Back in 2004 the report “Kyrgyzstan, the country of human rights… but not for homosexuals” (pdf) was published by COC Netherlands HIVOS, drawing the attention of the international human rights community to the problems faced by LGBT people in Kyrgyzstan. In the republic, however, the report did not generatemuch, if any, interest, even amongst human rights activists. At least now, thanks to the efforts of Labrys, people can find basic information about homosexuality, which is the first step in challenging homophobia and discrimination.
on October 28th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
“Kyrgyzstan, the country of human rights… but not for homosexuals”
As if Kyrgyzstani society has no other priorities than a nannying a subculture… Typicallly Dutch to get into this sort of bollocks.
on October 28th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
“This sort of bollocks” is about helping people to feel safe and able to live their lives without the threat of violence simply because of who they are.
People who wish to ignore minority groups such as LGBT are missing a fundamental point: human rights is NOT a selective concept and above all it is about tolerance towards others rather than the rights or entitlements of groups with which one identifies.
on October 31st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
All well meant companera, but once again I think people like you are the ones missing a fundamental point: that all this is not about lofty liberal fancies and being kind to each other but about neo-colonialism through the destruction of the country’s social tissue by promoting homosexuality, alcoholism, narcotics, prostitution, … and zombify the youth that way so that the country can be controlled and exploited better.
That’s not new, isn’t it? Why don’t you see that?
Lets be serious: how long would Labrys and other smut-promoting associations like Tais+ last without funding ‘from abroad’? One month maybe?
And don’t be fooled, my friend: it starts with ‘LGB and mutant rights’, the next step (look at what happens in Holland) will be advocating paedophilia.
on October 31st, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Why don’t I see that homosexuality, alcoholism, drug use and prostitution are being promoted? Because they’re not being promoted. Why can’t you see that? If you’re arguing that talking about an issue or doing something to help people affected by it is promotion, then your logic is utterly flawed: it is like saying that people won’t have sex if it’s not talked about, or that matches should be banned for causing arson.
WRT the survival of NGOs like Tais+ and Labrys without foreign funding, while their capacity to assist people would be reduced, I do not believe they would disappear: just as you are committed to your religio-moralistic view that ignoring things makes them disappear, the people working in these organisations are committed to their humanistic view that ignoring things generally makes people’s lives worse and that support and assistance should be provided as much as possible. Humanity and compassion are terrible things… [/sarcasm].
I fail to see the connection between LGBT and “mutants” - play fair and keep the tone one of civil disagreement not insult slanging.
on October 31st, 2007 at 7:58 pm
“the people working in these organisations are committed to their humanistic view that ignoring things generally makes people’s lives”
:)))) Do you really believe that yourself?
on October 31st, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Having met some of them and seen how committed they are, yes. Problems don’t go away if ignored, it just means that the dominant group in the community/society (usually heterosexual males with patriarchal religious beliefs) feels more comfortable - and other people suffer.
on October 31st, 2007 at 8:50 pm
“I fail to see the connection between LGBT and “mutants” - play fair and keep the tone one of civil disagreement not insult slanging.”
Where do you see insults? Should I even daarre?
lol ‘Mutant’ comes from the Latin ‘mutare’=to transform. And that is exactly what transgenderians have done: they mutated, hence they are mutants aren’t they? Kakie problema?
BTW: “it starts with ‘LGB rights’, the next step (look at what happens in Holland) will be advocating paedophilia.” Don’t you think so? Maybe be careful what you wish for.
on October 31st, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Kakaya problema?! Literal meaning is such a convenient defence, when you know as well as I do that the way that a word is used is as important as its historical (and non-contemporary) meaning. And, as you know, transgenderians is not an accepted term for transgender people…
I haven’t seen any evidence from reliable sources that the Dutch are “advocating paedophilia”. What I do think is that people who interpret religion in a very narrow, judgemental and literal way want to take us all back to the Dark Ages, which is easily more dangerous than support for any minority group because of its inherent intolerance. I am indeed careful what I wish for - namely a tolerant, open, secular and humanistic society that doesn’t kow-tow to religious bigots simply because they shout loudly about what they don’t like and refuse to accord others the respect they demand for themselves. That’s a really threatening idea, isn’t it?
on November 1st, 2007 at 12:04 pm
“transgenderians is not an accepted term for transgender people… ”
Ooops, I thought Transgender was a planet.
LOL
“I haven’t seen any evidence from reliable sources that the Dutch are “advocating paedophilia”.”
They already have a political party doing that. OK it’s marginal, it caused a lot of public outrage which is good but at the same time it is clearly an attempt to go ‘one step further’.
Vladimir Tyupin puts the numbers of, ahem, LGBT in Kyr at 35,000, which makes 0.7% of the pop. if you take it a 5 million. Will they dictate the agenda?
“What I do think is that people who interpret religion in a very narrow, judgemental and literal way want to take us all back to the Dark Ages, which is easily more dangerous than support for any minority group because of its inherent intolerance.”
That is you democratic right. Yet one should not underestimate that those conveniently called ‘religious bigots’ are far more progressive and on the mark than salon liberals with their conventional wisdoms… Because they often understand what is REALLY at stake.
on November 5th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Ataman Rakin, it’d be boring on neweurasia if you did not write. Thanks for sharing your views. I am luchky enough to have been raised in an atheist family and an ethnically mixed family, too, which helped me to accept diversity in different societies without challenging my views too much. Intolerance and prejudice kill and injure. I see that a lot in my work.
on November 5th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
“it’d be boring on neweurasia if you did not write.”
Nu–nye govori!
LOL
on November 5th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
What I meant by my previous post is that Ataman Rakin expresses views which to me seem very black-or-white and I wonder why somebody with that much international experience can still be stuck in boxes of frames that you see to put people in.
on November 6th, 2007 at 10:53 am
“I wonder why somebody with that much international experience can still be stuck etc.”
‘Stuck’ is what you use. Fine. But maybe it is BECAUSE I have a quite large int’l experience where, I can assure you, I have seen and heard things that I came to certain conclusions…
Liberals have to stop thinking that they have the patent and the monopoly on ‘progress’ or whatever. They haven’t.