The week against homophobia and transphobia-2015 started in Bishkek on May 11, Labrys organization reported. The week included film screenings of ‘Stonewall’ and ‘Pride’, as well as a closed meeting for members of the LGBTQI community.

May 16 – sports and recreational activities, “We’re going to the mountains!”. In the program – visit the most beautiful places of Kyrgyzstan, team games, useful information
May 17 – “Day of pride.”

Private IDAHOT celebrations has been disturbed

About 30 members of the LGBT group Labrys were holding a private celebration behind locked doors when a thug jumped over the wall and unlocked the door. He was followed in by men who began yelling threats. One member of the Labrys was injured and has filed changes.

According to a story behind a pay-wall, the “activists” were from the public associations of Kyrgyz El Jashtar Keheshi (Youth Council of Kyrgyzstan) and Kalys (Justice) . The paper excused this violence saying that the ‘activists’ were trying to prevent the alleged marriage ceremony of a same-sex marriage. One member of the group was injured at some point. The article makes specific mention that they saw a transgender woman, possibly as another excuse to act illegally.

Read the article here.

In Kyrgyzstan, the organisation Labrys organised a diverse week-long programme in celebration of the IDAHOT – the ‘Kyrgyz Week Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia 2014′. The events addressed new legal and political developments in Kyrgyzstan, especially given the recent tabling of draft legislation to criminalise homosexual ‘Propaganda’ in the national Parliament.

On March 26, 2014 two members of the Kyrgyz parliament initiated a draft law banning propaganda of ‘non-traditional sexual relations’, modelled on similar legislation in Russia and other countries. The bill has since been registered in the Parliament, taken down for technical revisions, and re-registered in May. Owing to Russia’s dominance in the Kyrgyz information sphere, the level of homo- and transphobia in the country has risen sharply. With the support of Labrys, a Coalition of civil society organisations for Justice and Non-discrimination has been organised, working on opposing the draft law since then.

In this context LGBTIQA organisation Labrys has organised a more downplayed contribution to the Kyrgyz Week Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – 2014, which started on 14 May with an announcement of “I exist! I am a citizen!”, an arts competition among LGBTIQA communities of Kyrgyzstan, conducted from 14 May to 14 June 2014. One of the main goals of the competition is to offer an opportunity for LGBTIQA communities to express their civic position in conditions of increasing homophobia and transphobia in the country and to also politicise and inspire LGBTIQA activities in Kyrgyzstan.

In the context of the Week Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Kyrgyzstan 2014 the LGBTIQ organisation Labrys also hosted a “Rainbow weekend” with a variety of events on the 17th and 18th of May.

On May 17 (Saturday) there was a whole “Day at Labrys” in their office. The program included:
1. Film Screenings of three films, including ‘Breakfast on Pluto’ and ‘Room in Rome’.
2 . Campaign for LGBTIQ communities of Kyrgyzstan. In reaction to the bill that has been brought forward in the Parliament, the action include writing letters to MPs to prevent this bill from being put in place.
3 . Celebratory picnic.
4 . Game Zone. All day – board games in good company.
5 . Souvenirs. The organisers gave out Labrys T-Shirts.
6. Communication without borders in a safe space.

On Sunday, May 18, a whole day of activities for the LGBTIQ community took place outside, in a beautiful place in Kyrgyzstan. The program included:
– Scenic places of Kyrgyzstan.
– Team Encounter Games – 5 teams of 10 people.
– Barbecue.
– Prizes for winners, and gifts for all members of the organization LGBTIQA Labrys.

Letters to Parliament for IDAHOT 2014 in Kyrgyzstan. Source: Labrys

LGBTIQA organisation Labrys will be the host of a chain of IDAHOT 2014 events on May 14, 16, 17 and 18.

On March 26, 2014 two members of the Kyrgyz parliament initiated a draft law banning propaganda of “non-traditional sexual relations”, which is very similar to the Russian ‘anti-gay propaganda’ law. It has since then been registered in the Parliament, taken down for technical revisions, and re-registered in May. Owing to Russia’s dominance in the Kyrgyz information sphere, the level of homo- and transphobia in the country has risen sharply. With support of “Labrys”, a Coalition of civil society organisations for Justice and Non-discrimination has been organised, working on opposing the draft law since then.

In this context LGBTIQA organisation “Labrys” is organising a more downplayed contribution to the Kyrgyz Week Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – 2014, which consists of following events:
14 May
Announcement of “I exist! I am a citizen!” arts competition among LGBTIQ communities of Kyrgyzstan to be conducted from 14 May to 14 June 2014. One of the main goals of the competition is to offer an opportunity for LGBTIQA communities to express their civic position in conditions of increasing homophobia and transphobia in the country and to also politicise and inspire LGBTIQA activities of Kyrgyzstan to join our activism.

16 May
Press release on IDAHOT-2014, explaining the history and significance of the day, history of the LGBTIQA movement in Kyrgyzstan, current situation and activities of “Labrys”.

Press briefing for journalists, organised as part of the Coalition’s efforts to combat the homophobic draft law. The briefing aims at increasing awareness of journalists about the draft law’s inconsistency with Kyrgyzstan’s international human rights commitments, provide a political, psychological, sociological, conflictological analysis of the draft law, and to generally engage with journalists on the issue of covering LGBTI issues in the Kyrgyz media.

17-18 May
“Rainbow weekend” series of events for the LGBTIQA communities.
On 17 May, there will be a day-long programme at “Labrys” office with film screenings, a picnic, and “Write a letter to an MP” action – where participants can express their opinions and feelings regarding the homophobic draft law, tell their stories from life, and otherwise engage with the politicians.
On 18 May, a day-long mountain “Encounter” game for LGBTIQA communities in a beautiful canyon two hours drive from capital city Bishkek with barbecue and plov.

You can visit Labrys website for more details on the action and their work.

A series of activities under the “Week Against Homophobia and Transphobia – 2013” will take place in the period between 12 to 20 May. Several LGBT organizations of Kyrgyzstan with the support of ally organizations will be coordinating the events. All activities of the “Week” are aimed at raising awareness of the Kyrgyz society, LGBT communities and civil society of the country about the issues faced by the LGBT communities in Kyrgyzstan.

Series of public film screenings – “SPACE OF TOLERANCE” – is a cultural and educational event providing wide circles of society with opportunity to know more about the problems of one of the most vulnerable social groups – LGBT. The audience will learn about real stories of different people, whose personal examples can help in dealing with issues of discrimination and inequality based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression-base. The program includes two documentary films – Anyone and Everyone (2007, USA) and Freeheld (2007, USA).

Meetings between LGBT organizations, activists and civil society representatives – gender and human rights associations, volunteers of youth groups – are also planned as part of the “Week”. Another event, a plenary discussion on protection of rights of LGBT communities in Kyrgyzstan, will be held with participation of representatives of international organizations and diplomatic missions present in the country.

Trainings, discussions, several healthy lifestyle-themed sports activities and mass cultural events are also in store for representatives of the LGBT community from all over the country.

The “Week Against Homophobia and Transphobia” is organized by Kyrgyzstan-based LGBT organizations for the second year in a row, gathering several hundreds of people regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Highlights of the commemorations included a series of public film screenings – “SPACE OF TOLERANCE”. The audience heard real life stories of different LGBT people and their personal experiences in tackling homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. The program included two documentary films – Anyone and Everyone (2007, USA) and Freeheld (2007, USA).

Meetings between LGBT organizations, activists and civil society representatives – such as gender and human rights associations, and volunteers of youth groups – took place as part of the Week.

Another event, a plenary discussion on the protection of the rights of LGBT communities in Kyrgyzstan, was marked by the participation of various representatives of international organizations and diplomatic missions present in the country.

Training programs, discussions, several healthy lifestyle-themed sports activities and mass cultural events also featured, as participants gathered from all over the country.