LGBT rights in Kazakhstan
Encyclopedia
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Kazakhstan may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT
residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Kazakhstan
, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
The legislation of Kazakhstan prohibits discrimination on a number of grounds including “on the ground of any status.” This includes discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Nevertheless, there is no special anti-discriminatory legislation in Kazakhstan that also includes prevention of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. There are also no anti-discriminatory bodies or procedures in Kazakhstan.
LGBT people in Kazakhstan face discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of their sexual orientation or gender identity during the course of their everyday lives. Manifestation of negative attitudes toward LGBT people, such as social exclusion, taunting, and violence often cause the victims physical, psychological and emotional harm. In order to avoid the dangers posed by homophobes and transphobes, many LGBT people feel
compelled to keep their sexual orientation or gender identity a secret from almost all people in their lives. The majority regard it as necessary to conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity from people in the workplace in order to retain their jobs and avoid hostility from bosses and co-workers. Attempts to report homophobic and transphobic violence to police are often met with resistance and even hostility on the part of law enforcement officers.
In 2009, Kazakhstan co-sponsored the opposing statement to the United Nations Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. A 2011 cross-national study by University of Chicago has demonstrated that a trend of LGBT acceptance is either slowed or reversed in Russia or other former USSR republics, a direct opposite of world trends.
since 1998. The age of consent is 18.
Prior to 1997, Article 104 Penal Code of Kazakhstan used to criminalize "buggery". This legislation followed the corresponding Section 121 from the former Soviet Union, which only specifically criminalized anal intercourse between men.
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.
The legislation of Kazakhstan prohibits discrimination on a number of grounds including “on the ground of any status.” This includes discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Nevertheless, there is no special anti-discriminatory legislation in Kazakhstan that also includes prevention of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. There are also no anti-discriminatory bodies or procedures in Kazakhstan.
LGBT people in Kazakhstan face discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of their sexual orientation or gender identity during the course of their everyday lives. Manifestation of negative attitudes toward LGBT people, such as social exclusion, taunting, and violence often cause the victims physical, psychological and emotional harm. In order to avoid the dangers posed by homophobes and transphobes, many LGBT people feel
compelled to keep their sexual orientation or gender identity a secret from almost all people in their lives. The majority regard it as necessary to conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity from people in the workplace in order to retain their jobs and avoid hostility from bosses and co-workers. Attempts to report homophobic and transphobic violence to police are often met with resistance and even hostility on the part of law enforcement officers.
In 2009, Kazakhstan co-sponsored the opposing statement to the United Nations Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. A 2011 cross-national study by University of Chicago has demonstrated that a trend of LGBT acceptance is either slowed or reversed in Russia or other former USSR republics, a direct opposite of world trends.
Law regarding same-sex sexual activity
Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in KazakhstanKazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
since 1998. The age of consent is 18.
Prior to 1997, Article 104 Penal Code of Kazakhstan used to criminalize "buggery". This legislation followed the corresponding Section 121 from the former Soviet Union, which only specifically criminalized anal intercourse between men.
See also
- Politics of KazakhstanPolitics of KazakhstanThe politics of Kazakhstan takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Kazakhstan is head of state and nominates the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government...
- LGBT rights in EuropeLGBT rights in EuropeLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights are widely diverse in Europe per country. Seven out of the ten countries that have legalised same-sex marriage are situated in Europe; a further fourteen European countries have legalised civil unions or other forms of recognition for same-sex couples...
- LGBT rights in Asia