Activism

There are multiple LGBT groups in Kyrgyzstan, including Kyrgyz Indigo (Kyrgyz: Кыргыз Индиго) and Labrys (Лабрис), founded in 2004. Labrys staff also conduct training for doctors and psychiatrists on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In recent years, more and more politicians have resorted to use openly homophobic rhetoric. On 8 March 2019, a peaceful march of about 400 people occurred in the capital Bishkek. Although the march was meant to commemorate the International Women's Day, it saw a heavy bent towards LGBT issues, which the media then dubbed Kyrgyzstan's "first gay pride march". The event, however, drew notable controversy, especially from members of parliament who expressed murderous threats to the participants. MP Jyldyz Musabekova wrote on Facebook that "the men who do not want to have children and the girls who do not want to pour tea...must not only be cursed, they must be beaten". She was quickly condemned by other deputies.

Human rights groups and the organisers defended the march and the presence of LGBT rainbow flags. Bektour Iskender, founder of the popular Kloop news website and a participant in the march, said, "I think it's very cool that the LGBT community came on the march, because this is also related to the rights of women if we are talking about lesbians and transgender girls who face tremendous violence in Kyrgyzstan".^[6][7] LGBT activists described the event as "a turning point".^[8]

Freedom of expression

In 2014, a bill was introduced to the Parliament to criminalise expression which creates "a positive attitude toward non-traditional sexual relations, using the media or information and telecommunications networks."^[9] On 15 October, the bill passed its first reading, in a 79–7 vote. It has received wide international opposition, and has been delayed multiple times. A final vote on the bill was expected to take place in 2016, but was not voted on and died at the end of the legislative session.^[5]

On 17 March 2023, the government announced a proposal to amend the child protection law. Article 2-1 of the draft law expands the definition of information harmful to the health and development of children as follows: “[information] that denounces family and traditional societal values, promotes non-traditional sexual relations and initiates disrespect towards parents or other family members”. The bill was passed by the parliament on 22 June 2023 and signed into law by the president on 14 August 2023. Unlike Hungary's "law on the protection of children" , the law does not mention sexual orientation or homosexuality explicitly. The law also does not define "family values" and "non-traditional sexual relations".^[10][11]