Kazakh Senate postpones consideration of anti-gay laws

A month after the lower chamber of Kazakhstan’s parliament voted for a ban on “LGBTQ+ propaganda,” the country's Senate has announced that the legislation would be delayed for an indefinite period of time.

The bill, modelled on Russia’s anti-gay laws, included fines and jail time for people found to have spread pro-LGBTQ messages in the media or on social media.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been a strong advocate for the bill - his coalition controls the majority in the country's lower-house of parliament.

The Senate appears to have delayed consideration of the proposed legislative changes because of the amount of work required to align the various laws impacted. It's not clear whether this is a temporary delay or a longer-term delaying tactic.

What's life like for LGBTQ people in Kazakhstan?

What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Kazakhstan? Let’s take a look at some of the key equality indicators.

Is homosexuality legal in Kazakhstan?

Yes. Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in 1998.

The age-of-consent is 16, regardless of sexuality.

Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people in Kazakhstan?

No. There are no protections from discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.

Is there Marriage Equality in Kazakhstan?

No. There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan is a socially conservative country. Homosexuality is generally seen as a taboo subject.

Homophobia is systemic.

LGBTQ people conceal their sexuality.