Kyrgyzstan IDAHO Report 2013

A Week Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2013 – dedicated to the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia – was organized in the capital of Kyrgyzstan (May 12 – May 20). Several LGBT organizations from Kyrgyzstan joined together to organise and co-ordinate the events, together with partners. All activities of the Week aimed at raising awareness in Kyrgyz society, in civil society and amongst LGBT communities in the country, about the issues faced by LGBT communities in Kyrgyzstan. This was the second time the Week Against Homophobia and Transphobia had been held. Altogether, several hundreds of people participated in the events.

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.